OBSERVATIONS 


ii. 


-V- 


Ui 


pon 


*  Shewing  that 


rHE    P4PER-M0NEV    AND    FUNDING     SYSTEMS    ARI      THE    TRL't    CAUSES    OF 
NATIONAL    EMBAURASSMF-NT  AND  IMMOHALITy  ;    ESPECIALLY    OK 

THAT,    WHICH    NOW    SO   GENERALLY    PREVAIL WITH  *'^ 

SOME    REMARKS    UPON     THE     NATURE,     AND 
A  COPY  OF  THE  CONSTITUTION,  OF 

MR.  OWEN'S  IfXSW  SYSTEM, 

1  Considered  as  a  Remedy  thcr?for. 


^<©H 


TO    WHICH    IS    SUBJOINED 


9t  Er^ic^  of  «i  Mcmafftatjlr  Srvmon; 


Lately  Preached  m  Londun, 


UPON  NATZONAI.  DISTRESS. 


In  Two  Numbers. 


BY  Ji  LOOKER  ON, 

— T"i •   n.    i  ■■    •    - —  - 


"  »i 


PHILADELPHIA ; 


OBMSUED,    rOR    THE    AfTHOR,    BY     JOUR     MORTIMER,     74,     901  Til    liECOND   irRlkl.T} 
AND   TO   BE    HAD    UF    TNE     TRINCirAL     BOUKSELLERI.  > 


1826. 


Ul 


iiiitU-uG 


».i.» 


V^mn 


\  - 


./: 


\'' 


N' 


^-dT. 


<' 


%- 


« 


\< 


i 


-  * 


PREFACB. 


There  is;  perhaps,  fio  portion  of  his  progeny ,  for  which  a 
p'riterfeela  a  more  anxious  solicit ude^  than  for  the  off,\pring  of 
i^/.v  pen.  And,  if  no  better  excuse  should  suggest  itself  to  t/ie 
.viind  of  the  reader,  we  hope  this  consideration  will  be  su^icieni 
to  obtain  our  pardon  for  offering  a  few  explanations,  by  nay 
of  Preface,  ivhich  could  not  so  well  appear,  in  the  body  of  the 
work. 

It  may  then  he  proper  to  remark,  that,  though  England  is 
fnade  the  scene,  to  which  the  follmuing  remarks  upon  Currency 
)itnd  Finance  more  particularh/  apply  ;  they  are  founded  an 
pri?iciples,  which,  like  p7'tnciptes  in  general,  arc  strictly  appli- 
cable to  the  whole  world.  That  country  has  been  chosen  indeed, 
but  because  it  offers  the  most  complete  illustration  and  con  fir -^ 
mat  ion  of  the  views,  ive  are  desirous  to  express.  If  however, 
such  was  in  no  wise  the  fact — //  the  Finajicial  ruiji,  which 
threatens  to  overwhelm  the  prosperity  of  England,  resulted 
from  causes,  that  were  necessarily  peculiar  to  that  country — 
and  if,  therefore,  nothing  could  be  gathered  from  a  notice  of 
them,  in  the  way  of  warning  to  others — still,  we  should  consi- 
der a  review  thereof  interesting  to  a  people,  upon  whom  the  fi- 
nancial affairs  of  Great  Britain  eaercisc  a)i  infiuence,  so pow- 
eiful  and  so  vast.  JVe  hope  then  that  even  a  hujty  attempt  to 
draio  the  attention  of  the  public  to  the  real  source  of  the  pre- 
sent pecuniary  embarrassment  and  distt^ess  ivill  be  deemed  an 
attempt,  not  altogether  without  interest  or  use. 

IVe  propose,  it  is  true,  to  offer  a  mere  glimpse  of  the  affair, 
but  they,  ivho  desire  to  obtain  more  full  information,  will  find 
little  difficulty  in  proceeding,  so  that  they  are  once  put  in  the 
fight  road.  And,  as  some  readers  will  skim  over  a  Pamphlet, 
who  would  reject  a  more  regular  and  extended  treatise  with- 
out even  a  cursory  examination  \  we  trust  our  dish  will  be  ac- 
aeptahle  to  those  squeainish  appetites,  which  reject  a  full  plate 
with  loathing  and  disgust. 

I  In  the  second  Number,  we  intend  to  offer  an  explanation  of 
the  natitre,  and  insert  THE  CONSTITUTION,  of  the  Soci- 
tty,  which  has  been  formed  in  Indiana  by  Air.  Owen.  And  as 
much  interest  is  felt  by  many  persons,  respecting  the  success  of 
his  under  taking,  we  shall  communicate  the  latest  informatian, 
as  to  the  progress  oftiis  attempt.  IVe  hope  that  our  pamphlet 
will  contain  a  more  clear  explanation  of  hi:    arrange  me  rj^i^ 


\ 


IV.  PREFACE. 


than  what  has  hitherto  been  placed  before  the  pt/b!ic  in  gene- 
ral;  and  that  it  will  comeiiuently  be  pleasing  bqtk  to  its  ene- 
mies and  its  friends.  To  these,  inas?nuch  as  it  supplies  a  re- 
presentation of  the  grounds,  on  which  they  build  an  expectation 
of  success  ;  and  to  those,  because  a  clearer  insight  of  their  op- 
ponent's operations  will  enable  them  to  point  the  artillery  of 
their  sarcasm  and  their  wit,  without  so  imminent  a  danger  of 
siijfering  a  recoil.  For  thotigh  he,  ivho  does  not  understand  a 
thing,  may  laugh  at  it  notivithstanding — though,  indeed,  his 
merri?nent  may  probably  be  a  consequence  of  his  ignorance  and 
will  tnost  likely  be  in  accurate  proportion  to  it — we  imagine 
that  no  wise  man  will  be  desirous  either  to  laugh  at,  or  con- 
demn, any  thing,  which  he  has  not  previously  been  enabled  to 
comprehend. 

It  is  our  intention  to  insert  moreover,  in  the  same  Number, 
some  extracts  from  a  SERMON,  on  National  Distress  :  which 
tvas  lately  preached  in  London,  by  Mr.  Ilif^ING.  We  pro- 
pose to  submit  also  such  a  review  of  this  remarkable  Dis- 
course, as  our  limits  null  admit,  and  as  its  very  singular  cha- 
racter toould  ser/n  to  req,(ire.  Jiut,  as  this  Sermon  and,  if  we 
can  accomplish  our  (tbject,  the  observations  thereupon  will  speak 
for  themselves,  we  shall  say  little  about  them  in  the  prefatory 
remarks.  It  may  not  however  be  a7niss  to  observe,  that  the  an- 
imadversion, we  presume  to  direct  against  the  published,  opi- 
nions of  this  somewhat  celebrated  Divine,  is  aimed  at  the  sen- 
timents of  the  man,  and  not  at  the  religion,  in  the  naine  of 
which  he  attempts  to  intrude  them  upon  the  ivorld.  For,  while 
we  will  enter  into  no  truce  with  Hypocrisy  and  Cant,  of  what- 
soever description  it  may  be  ;  we  would  at  all  times  respect,  even 
conscientious  er^or  on  so  sacred  a  point.  But  we  will  never  al" 
low  imposture  and  falsehood  to  shield  themselves  beneath  a  pro- 
iectiun,  that  can  be  justly  granted  but  to  a  sincere  mistake. 


.tf  •'■ 


•        *• 


'CA'ffSiS3  01?  ®38T;EI8SS« 


I 


CHAPTER  I. 

Introductory  Remarks, 


The  very  f:iiieimsG  Jiuctnations  in  the  value  of  Property,  wliich,  of 
late  years,  have  so  repeatedly  occurred,  excite  perhaps  equal  emharrass- 
ment  and  surprise.  For,  though  uiauy  individuals  perceived  the  causes, 
whence  these  ruinous  changes  receive  botli  their  origin  and  their  in- 
crease, and  were  accordingly  guarded  against  their  deleterious  results ;  it 
18  certain  that,  as  far  as  tlic  bulk  of  the  people  were  concerned,  they  have 
fallen  upon  the  public  with  almost  us  much  astonishment  as  distress. 

It  would  indeed  be  a  course,  not  wholly  uninteresting,  were  we  to  in- 
quire into  the  origin  of  that  ignorance,  as  to  their  true  situation,  which  is 
known  to  have  prevailed  among  tl»c  people,  both  here  and  in  Europe,  at 
the  close  of  the  late  wars.  Our  proposed  limits,  however,  will  not  per- 
mit us  to  enter  into  much  detail  respecting  the  causes  of  a  result,  so 
extensively  fatal  to  the  coinj'urt  of  thousands.  VVc  may,  notwithstanding, 
be  allowed  to  remark,  tliat  a  very  prominent  reason  of  this  unhappy  niis- 
unilerstanding  may,  doubtless,  be  discovered  in  the  disinclination,  evinced 
by  mankind,  to  investigate  the  real  nature  of  the  circumstances,  in  vvhicli 
they  exist.  They  arc  inclined  to  look  at  the  effects,  rather  tlian  at  the 
causes  of  things ;  and  hence,  we  find  that  so  few  of  them  have  sought  after 
the  reasons  which  led  to  the  pecuniary  embarrassment  and  distress,  that 
ppw  so  generally  felt.  Though  the  storm  has  passed  over  society — if 
paused  it  can  be  said  to  be — with  an  effect  that  lias  witiiered  all  confi- 
PErtcE  among  us;  there  are  comparatively  few,  who  have  traced  the 
hurricane  to  the  .source,  whence  it  departed  on  its  pestiferous  career. 

We  hope,  therefore,  that  an  attcmj)t  to  point  out  the  real  origin  of  this 
pecuniary  tornado  will  be  deemed,  neither  useless  nor  unnecessary  at  the 
present  moment.  Especially  as,  \{"  brevity  be  the  soul  of  wit,"  we  pro- 
mise to  be  witty  throughout  all  our  remarks.  Indeed,  we  propose  to 
pffer  little  more  than  a  sketch  of  those  fatal  proceedings,  which  are  the 
Jmmcdiate  rau.ses  of  the  evils  of  a  pecuniary  nature,  that  ynfort'»'»a|i»l\r 


8  The.  Paptr-Money  Systerfi. 

grave  suspicion  that  it  contained  none  of  these  Repreacntativr^s  of  Value 
respecting  which  there  is  now-a-days  so  great  an  ado.  Indeed,  to  pro- 
ceed in  our  supposition,  as  to  the  antiquity  of  the  Notes,  we  believe  that 
if  Solomon  was  to  rise  from  the  dead,  and  be  shown  a  Bank  Note,  even 
he  would  admit  that  now,  at  least,  there  was  something  "  new  under  the 
sun." 

Without  however  pretending  to  decide,  as  to  the  opinion  of  this,  '  the 
wisest  of  men ;'  we  may  safely  assert  that  comparatively  few  persons  think 
much,  about  their  real  origin  or  birth.  And,  yet,  Uttle  more  than  a  cen- 
tury has  elapsed,  since,  in  their  present  capacity,  they  were  wholly  un- 
known. Even  Silver  and  Gold,  which,  aa  they  were  the  predecessors, 
will  also  probably  be  the  successors  of  these  representative  rags,  are  of 
110  very  ancient  standing.  For  it  was  not  until  after  the  discovery  of 
America,  that  even  these  became  general,  as  a  medium  of  circulation, 
throughout  the  civilized  world. 

It  is  necessary,  therefore,  in  order  to  obtain  a  more  distinct  view  of 
th(Mpiestion  before  us,  to  recollect  that  barter  was  the  original  mode 
of  business  among  mankind.  It  was,  then,  by  an  actual  exchange  of 
commodities,  thiit  man  endeavoured,  at  first,  to  trade  with  his  fellows ;  and 
in  that  pristine  method,  we  behold  the  natural  face  of  transactions,  whose 
artificial  coinple.xion,  we  shall  h<?reafter  have  occasion  to  survey.  This 
early  plan  of  commercial  dealing  was  certainly  an  inconvenient,  but  it 
was  a  saf*-  mode ;  seeing  that  It  oft'ered  no  great  chance  of  a  predica- 
ment, in  winch  a  seller  in  cmr  day  not  unfrequently  finds  himself— a  pre- 
dieann  nt  which  will  be  readily  understood,  when  we  state  that  it  suppo- 
ses him  to  have  parted  with  his  goods,  and  to  have  received  nothing  in 
return.  Not  but  he  may  have  got  a  Bank  Note,  or  even  a  six-months' 
unindorsed  Bill  in  exchange  ;  but  these  we  hold  to  be  exactly  tantamount 
to  nothinif,  at  this  time.  Wc  see  then  that  the  anti(piuted  system  of  bu- 
siness to  whicli  we  have  referred,  was  unfavourable  to  that  Credit,  of 
which,  still  oftener  than  of  Value,  our  Paper-Money  is  the  representative 
anil  friend.  And  this  is  a  consideration  and  distinction,  we  request  the 
reader  to  notice  and  recollect ;  as  his  so  dojng  will  facilitate  considerably 
a  full  understanding  of  the  question  in  hand. 

Another  feature  oTTtTiP;  ca.st-olf  maimer  of  trade,  and  one  which  we  had 
almost  said  deserves  our  approval  a.s  well  as  our  regard,  was  its  tendency 
to  pr«'serve  the  healthful  eipiality  of  man.  Not  that  we  would  advocate, 
in  the  present  state  of  Society,  an  apj)roach  to  the  notorious  equality  of 
the  Frtuch  school :  although  we  abiior  that  hateful  and  dangerous  difler- 


\  - 


'■^ 


The  Paptr-Money  System.  f 

ence  in  the  fortunes  of  mankind,  which  a  vicious  system  in  money  mat- 
ters has  iBihappily  and  wickedly  introiluced.  *' 

As  we  have  said,  Barter  was  an  inconvenient,  although  it  was  a  safe 
plan,  and  hence  arose  the  introduction  of  representatives  of  value. 
These,  which  in  our  day  have  degenerated  into  representatives  of  credit, 
were  formerly  of  gold,  of  silver,  or  of  brass;  or  of  some  other  article  to 
trhich  the  general  consent  of  nations  had  attached  a  deternnnatc 
imount  of  value  or  o(  worth.  Not  that  it  was  intrinsically  valuable,  in 
proportion  to  that  amount;  but  that,  for  tlie  convenience  of  business  and 
the  regulation  of  price,  it  was  to  be  h«ld  equivalent  to  a  certain  sum. 
And  as  property  became  measured  by  this  new  standard,  it  would  of 
course  assume  a  nominal  extent  of  worth,  agreeable  to  the  actual  amount 
©f  those  circulating  representatives  which  regulated  its  price.  So  that 
its  nominal  value,  and  which  to  a  seller  is  its  real  worth,  would  neccssa- 
Hly  flnttuatc  with  the  fluctuations  of  the  standard,  by  which  it  was  virtu- 
ally appraised.  And  as  Gold  and  Silver  were  found  to  concentrate  the 
greatest  number  of  the  tjualifications,  which  it  was  desirable  that  such  a 
regulator  should  possess,  they  were  pretty  generally  adopted  for  that 
purpose. 

But  as  men,  in  former  times,  were  less  enlightened  tiian  at  present, 
tod  therrjore  Ic.'^s  given  to  gambling  and  .speculation;  the  scarceness  of 
Hiese  precious  materials,  which  had  so  powerful  a  tendency  to  maintain 
^TEAniNESs  of  price,  formed  a  strong  motive  with  those  .siinj)le  people, 
in  inilucing  them  to  adopt  such  a  standard,  for  the  valuation  of  their  4)ro- 
|>erty  and  goods.  Thus,  then,  aided  by  the  narrow  views  of  our  remote 
Incestors,  Silver  and  Gold  long  continued  to  perform  the  oflice  of  valu- 
ers to  no  inconsidcral)le  portion  of  the  world.  Nor  start  good  reader,  at 
the  mention  of  our  or  your  remote  ancestors,  for  remote;  ancestors  even 
^e  unquestionably  had;  although,  it  maybe,  that  their  crimes  were  too 
insignificant  to  danm  them  into  fame.  Be  this  however  as  it  may,  we 
toay  reasonably  conclude  that,  in  the  time  of  our  distant  predecessors,  it 
%as  coin,  or  bullion,  that  afti.^cd  the  price  of  the  articles  which  thoy  hap* 
pched  to  sell. 

So  dark  an  age  was  however  destined  to  have  an  end  ;  and  there  sprang 
tp,  at  length,  a  race,  whose  actions  demonstrate  that  thoy  wished  to  dis- 
cover a  less  circuitous  road  to  wealth  than  that  which  their  fathers  had 
80  ignorantly  pursued.  Determined,  it  appears,  that  if  unable  io  find  out 
.  that  perpetual  desideratum — a  "  Royal "  course  to  learning  and  to  scnso| 
ihey  would  at  least  procure  a  fhnrf  rut  to  fortune  and  to  power.     And 


10  T%e  Paptr-Monty  System. 

as  this  was  wholly  incompatible  with  tho  continuance  of  GolH  and  Sil- 
ver, as  the  measurers  of  wealth ;  they  speedily  resolved  to  oust  them  from 
the  oflicc,  with  as  little  ceremony  M'A  some  kindred  spirits  employ  when 
they  dismiss  a  superannuated  servant  to  idleness  and  want.  But  we  beg 
pardon  for  having  somewhat  nusreprescnted  their  proceedings,  in  tlie  in- 
stance before  us;  as  instead  of  turning  them  out,  at  once,  they  so  far 
respected  the  prejudices  of  mankind,  as  merely  to  give  them  an  associ- 
ate, whose  appointment  might  delicately  intimate  that  thenceforth  their 
services  wouUl  not  be  desired.  A  hint,  by  the  bye,  which  they  appear 
to  fiave  taken  with  a  somewhat  liberal  delay. 

As  our  readers  have  doubtless  foreseen,  this  new  associate  of  tlie  Coin 
was  no  other  than  that  PAPER-MONEY,  whose  introduction,  nature, 
and  ntodc  of  bui<iness,  it  is  our  design,  in  this  chapter  more  particularly, 
to  exhibit  and  explain. 

For  this  purpose,  we  submit  an  illustration,  by  which  we  hope  more 
effectually  to  connnunicate  our  views.     Let  us,  then,  suppose  mankind 
to  be  represented  by  a  connnunity  of  individuals,  residing  upon  an  island 
and  having  no  communication  with  tho  rest  of  the  world.      Let  us  fur- 
ther suppose,   that  the  inhabitants  of  tiiis  isolated  spot  decree  the  issue 
of  one  Million  of  Dollars;  in  order  to  possess  a  representative  of  value, 
the  circulation  of  which  shall  prevent  the  inconvenience,  that  a  system  of 
liarter  is  calculat«,'d  to  produce.     And  the  reader  w  ill  observe,  that,  in 
the  case  we  have  supposed,  these  Dollars  may  be  either  of  Metal  or  of 
Ilajfs,  as  far  as  it  elVects  the  princij)le,  we  are  endeavouring  to  explain. 
We  have  af  present  to  consider  the  limitation  chiefly  of  these  represen- 
tatives of  worth;  we  hope  therefore  the  reader  will  not  now  distract  his 
mind  by  any  recollection  about  the  material  (jf  which  they  are  composed. 
This  being  disniissiul  from  his  rejrard,  we  would  now  request  him  to  pur- 
sue tho  impiiry,  and  view  the  operation  of  the  currency,  or  valuer  of  pro- 
perty, which  we  have  supposed  to  be  established  in  the  isle.      He  will 
quickly  perceive  that  this  will  result  in  the  atli.xing  of  a  price,  or  nominal 
amount  of  value,  uj)on  tlie  varied  articles  which  it  might  happen  to  pos- 
sess, and  of  which  individuals  were  desirous  to  dispose.     And  thus  the 
Agriculturalist  would  no  longer  say  that  his  horse,  or  his  cow,  was  worth 
a  certain  number  of  the  .sheep  of  his  neighbour;  but  that  he  esteemed 
it  to  be  e(|ual  to  a  certain  amount  of  tlie  circulating  medium  (Dollars) 
which  we  suppose  to  have  been  i.ssued  by  the  inhabitants  tiiemsclves. 

It  now  b<«com('s  necessary  to  remark,  that  this  proportion,  between 
the  property  and  the  pecuniary  circulation  of  tlic  island,  could  continue 


^ 


The  Paper-Money  System.  II 

the  saint,  only  as  long  as  tlieir  relative  amount  remained  as  at  first.  For 
if  either  were  essentially  changed,  such  an  alteration  would  produce 
another  proportion,  suitable  thereto.  That  is,  if  the  goods  (or  thing 
measured)  were  doubled  in  amount,  while  the  Dollars  (or  standard  of 
meaHurement)  continued  as  before,  aya/Z  of  prices,  as  it  is  termed,  would 
occur;  because  any  fixed  portion  of  tlio  property  would  no  longer  bear 
it^  accustomed  proportion  to  the  regulating  and  circulating  medium  of 
tlie  place.  So  that,  by  an  enlargeineiit  or  diminution  of  this  .medium,  the 
nominal  value  of  Property  might  change  upon  the  island,  as  it  changes 
Tcith  us,  without  any  alteration  in  iis  intrinsic  worth,  or  coniinon  use. 

We  hope  this  illustration  will  serve  to  point  out  the  v.  ay,  in  which  an 
alteration  of  the  Currency  is  brought  to  bear  upon  the  value  of  property 
or  goods.  And,  in  that  case,  the  reader  will  readily  discover  the  objkct 
whicli  the  introducers  of  Paper-Money  did  thereby  intend  to  effect 
For  he  will  perceive,  that,  though  these  politic  scln'mers  were  unable  to 
increase  the  product  of  their  estate?,  otherwise  tiian  by  industry  and  care, 
and  that,  though  they  were  unable  to  find  any  bye  road  which  led  at  once 
to  true  honour  and  real  wealth ;  they  covld  manage  to  augim;nt  the  no- 
minal extent  of  their  fortunes  by  projjortionably  extending  the  circula- 
tion which  regulated  their  amount.  Yes,  the  reader  will  then  be  at  no 
loss  to  conclude,  why  the  I'apcr-Moncy  gentry  became  dissatisfied  with 
Silver  and  Gold,  as  the  valuers  of  their  pro])erty;  and  why  they  introdu- 
ced that  base,  but  more  accommodating,  substitute  which  they  have  now 
thrust  upon  the  world. 

Small  however  as  is  the  intrinsic  value  of  these  modern  representa- 
tives of  wealth,  their  introduction,  in  this  character,  may  be  fairly  consi- 
dered as  the  origin  of  a  great  portion  of  the  distress,  to  which  we  alluded 
in  our  introductory  remarks.  But  though,  in  some  respects,  the  source 
of  so  baneful  a  result,  Paper-Money  ought  by  no  means  to  be  viewed, 
as  of  itself,  the  main  agent  in  its  production  and  support.  Indeed  the 
substitution  of  a  Paper  for  a  Metallic  currency  must  be  deemed  a  very 
material  convenience,  in  the  transaction  of  business;  and,  if  its  issue 
yrere  regulated  by  prudence  and  honesty,  no  seri(»us  embarrassment 
could  arise  from  its  limited  use.  If  emjiloyed  to  represent  Property,  in- 
stead of  CREDIT,  as  is  at  present  the  ca.se;  it  would  then  be  engaged 
in  its  legitimate  occupation.  It  might  then  become  a  useful  servant; 
in  the  room  of  being,  what  it  now  is,  a  curse  upon  our  race. 

But  this  is  an  oflTicc,  as  we  said,  which  it  appears  to  have  almost 
^vennp;  and  yet  it  was  not  till  it*  incestuous  union  with  its  own  offl 


\2  The  Funding  St/stem. 

spring — the  funding  system — that  it  materially  assisted  in  the  produc- 
tion of  effects,  which  a  late  posterity  will  notice,  as  a  warning ;  but 
which,  we  hope  an  early  age  will  for  ever  remove,  as  far  as  they  are 
matter  of  experience,  or  distress.  It  becomes  therefore  necessary  that 
we  summon  this  second  monster  to  our  bar,  before  we  can  be  justly 
considered  as  having  before  us — the  full  origin  of  the  complaint.  As 
however  we  do  not  wish  our  readers  to  bo  surprised  by  his  appearance 
— and  we  can  assure  them  lie  is  a  beast  that  has  cut  very  strange  capers 
in  his  day — we  will  defer  his  entrance  to  unolhcr  Chapter. 


CHAPTER  III. 

The  Funding  System, 

1»  tracing  the  rise  and  progress  of  the  Funding  System — a  system 
that  has  enabled  its  autiiors  and  supporters  to  ccnmit  a  detestable  rob- 
bery on  posterity  itself — we  must  advert  to  the  means  that  were  emjdoy- 
€d,  or  rather  the  sources  that  were  resorted  to,  for  the  procurement  of 
the  National  supplies,  in  former  times.  And,  without  entering  into  any 
detail  on  these  points,  which  might  be  considered  as  e(p!:\lly  pedantic 
and  unnecessary  on  the  present  occasion,  we  remark  that  these  supplies 
were  raised  from  the  people  thcmHclvca.  'Yho.y  were  levied  upon  the 
property  of  those  persons,  for  zi'hose  benefit  they  were  presumed  to  be 
required.  Thus  constituting,  in  fact,  an  abstraction  from  the  convenience 
and  means  of  enjoyment,  that  appertained  to  the  same  generation  which 
deliberated  on  their  propriety,  and  gave  them  their  existence  and  their 
form. 

From  this  glance  at  the  affair,  it  will  be  readily  gathered,  that,  when 
a  state  of  warfare  or  some  other  cause  required  extended  supplies,  there 
existed  a  degree  of  pecuniary  pre^rsure  (or,  as  would  now  be  termed, 
"  bad  times"),  correspondent  to  the  severity  of  the  exigence,  or  the  du- 
ration of  the  war.  And  the  consequences  of  some  of  tliesc  pcrimls  of 
hostility  are  accordingly  depicted,  in  a  very  hvely  matmer,  by  the  histo- 
rians, who  hau;  transmitted  an  account  thereof  to  future  ages.  IVar  and 
pecuninrij  siijerim^  therefore  becanjc  much  alike;  except  that  tliis  was 
the  eflbct  and  that  the  cause.  It  will  then  be  readily  believed,  that  the 
close  of  the  former  wa.s  ome  consideretl  with  delight ;  as  being  the  har- 


4 


* 


\ 


The  Funding  System.  13 

bmgcr  ofthat  prosperity  and  ease,  which  history  as  wcl!  as  experience 
had  declared  to  be  the  companions  of  peace.  Indeed,  peace  and  pros- 
perity had  tbrnied  a  '  Holy  Alliance,"  which  we  hope  to  see  re-establish- 
ed, upon  tlie  ruins  of  that  baneful  association  of  Despots,  which  has  as- 
sumed the  appellation  in  our  day.  So  powerful  in  fact  was  the  impres- 
sion, which  this  union  of  traiupiillity  and  pecuniary  ease  had  made  upon 
the  human  mind,  that,  previous  to  the  conclusion  of  tlie  late  war,  an 
expectation  was  very  generally  entertained  that  peace  would  produce  its 
accustomed  results.  Forgetful  of  tlieir  true  situation,  tlie  people  of  I'hig- 
lanii  actually  anticipated  an  increase  of  the  enormous  prohts,  which  a 
lavish  expenditure  of  a  lictitious,  but  largely  extended  Debt  had  made 
coeval  with  the  war. 

But,  in  perfect  contradiction  to  that  equitable  method  of  raising  the 
supplies  to  which  we  have;  referred,  the  Funding  System  proposed  to  re- 
lieve the  then  present  generation  from  a'l  the  burden  of  expenses,  the 
benefits  of  which  tiiey  were  nevertheless  expected  to  enjoy.  At  least, 
the  payment  of  the  current  Interest  was  all  the  charge  which  the  gcne- 
rou'i  adopters,  or  supporters  of  this  new  Scheme  considered  it  necessa- 
ry to  impose  upon  themselves.  Although,  it  seems,  they  expected  their 
children  might  discharge,  not  only  that  but  the  Principal  itself  As  how- 
ever it  appeared  somewhat  doubtful,  whether  so  uniciuc  a  System  could 
stand  alone — a  System  by  which  one  generation  was  to  borrow  and  ex- 
pend, while  ANoTHEH  was  to  pay  oft*  the  score — its  authors  uivented  a 
fiction  which,  before  that  enlightened  age,  was  wholly  unknown.  'IMiey 
pretended  tosuppo.se  that  the  whole  earth,  or  at  any  rate  that  part  of  it 
where  they  lived,  was  entirely  their  own  ;  and  that,  being  so,  they  could 
do  witli  it  whatever  they  pleased.  Thus,  though  it  does  not  a})pear  they 
consulted  their  children  whether  or  not  they  desired  to  be  born,  they  (hd 
not  scruple  to  render  them  Beggars,  whenever  they  should  arrive.  And 
yet,  notwithstanding  their  claim,  we  cannot  perceive  how  they  could 
have  any  more  than  a  like  interest  in  the  world;  except  indeed  in  the 
n;irrow  spot  which  would  be  requisite  for  a  grave.  We  must  however 
suppose  that  our  apj)rehension  is  somehow  obscured  upon  tins  point ;  as 
not  only  did  thoy  pretend  to  a  more  durable  hen,  but  their  conteiiq)ora- 
ries  seem  to  have  acipiiesced  in  the  demand.  For,  by  its  establishment, 
tliey  actually  succeeded  in  PAWNING  the  Country  itself.  'J'hey  went 
even  further  than  this;  for  they  pretended  not  merely  to  pledge  tlio 
Estates  of  their  posterity,  but  likewise  the  labour  of  ages  that  were  un- 
born.    Common  justice  and  common  sense  do  indeed  reject  such  an  m- 


/ 


M  The  Funding  %iittm. 

feriiretation  ;  but  it  is  clear  tliat  such  was  the  intent,  and  tiiat  such  liaa 
hitherto  been  the  invariable  result.  While  however  justice  and  reason 
were  opposed  to  the  arrangement,  Interest  waa  enlisted  incst  heartily  in 
its  support.  We  need  not  therefore  feel  much  surprise,  at  the  succesa 
of  (hose  ini(|uit{>us  schemes  which  have  given  rise  to  National  Debts  (aa 
they  are  called)  in  almost  every  country  in  the  world.  We  hope  hou-ever 
their  career  is  alinoat  run  ;  and  that  so  injurious  and  damnable  a  false- 
hood— as  that  a  Nation  has  a  Right  to  pledge  the  Property  or  Labour  oj 
its  voSTKRiTV- —  Tfill  be  for  ever  exploded  and  condemned. 

But,  though  our  adventurers  succeeded,  through  tlie  delusion  wc  have 
pointed  out,  in  raising  very  extraordinary  Debts,  which  thoj  called  Na- 
ti«)nal ;  it  was  found  necessary  thereto,  that  the  Receipts,  whrch  were  gi- 
ven in  acknowledgment  of  them,  should  be  endowed  with  a  property, 
not  usually  belonguig  to  vouchers  of  a  similar  kind.  For  it  was  consi- 
dered expedient  to  make  them  transferable  Bonds.  A  plan  that  was 
doubtless  suggested  by  an  opinion,  tlmt,  from  tlieir  being  passed  away 
for  real  consideration,  thpy  wotiiti  ac,(piire  a  sacredness  and  stability 
which  as  the  ni<^re  reeognition  of  fictitious  and  unjust  obligations,  they 
could  never  receive.  Not  that,  in  truth,  such  an  arrangement  did  alter 
ihe  radical  injustice  of  the  proceeding.  Since  a  contract  which  is  palpa- 
l>ly  unjust  and  illegal  in  itd  inception — fraudlul  and  deceptive  in  its  ca- 
reei — as  well  as  ruinous  in  its  results,  can  never  obtain  legahty  by  s*»f^ 
feraiice ;  or  impose  a  corresponding  obligation  by  its  age.  And  such 
we  could  show  to  be  the  character  of  the  greater  part  of  the  so-called 
National  Debts,  which  now  exist  as  mementos  of  the  folly  of  the  present 
generation,  in  suflering  them  to  remain  ;  and  of  the  injustice  of  the  past, 
in  allowing  them  to  be  made.  Our  limits  however  compel  us  to  forego 
this  very  important  part  of  the  question,  at  this  time  ;  and  we,  therefore, 
TeMiine  our  reniark.-t  U|Ton  the  views  and  proceedings  of  the  authors  of 
>he  Schenu'. 

It  seems  then  they  thou^Mit,  if  thought  be  in  this  case  indicated  by 
deeds,  that,  as  long  as  the  receipts  for  such  remarkable  Debts  remained 
u  itli  the  primal  holders,  or  speculators  in  the  affair  ;  ^oiwc  future  account 
of  the  iuKpiilous  tran.-action  might  be  demanded  and  enforced.  Posteri- 
ty might  iiKjuire  abcnit  the  origin  of  the  contracts,  it  was  expected  to 
'•  hommr  and  obey."  It  might  call  lor  an  EQUITABLE  ADJUST- 
MKN'r  of  the  Inisiness  .  and,  what  rogue  ever  desired  an  equitable  set- 
tlement of  his  account  7  Therefore  was  it  (hat  these  modern  Shylocks 
determined  to  pass  awJit  their  counterfeit  o}»ligaiions,  for  the  real  pro* 
■  -  --* 


v#. 


The.    Fundin}^  System.  15 

pcrty  of  their  less  cunning  nfiglibours,  without  any  delay.  Biit  wliat  do 
Vtv  say  ?  Shylocks  1  Wc  will  not  so  lihel  the  character  of  the  Venitian 
JEVV^  as  to  j)lace  it  on  a  level  with  tJie  infamous  reputation  of  those 
men,  who  coiumrnced,  and,  still  less,  of  those  who  shouhl  now  attempt 
to  justify  such  base  and  hateful  spoliations.  lli.,  indeed,  jjrryed  upon 
the  necessities  of  his  fellow.*^ ;  but  they  upon  the  property  of  their  chil- 
dren or  their  heirs!  He,  it  is  true,  increaml  the  misfortunes  which  he 
found ;  but  they  created  the  misery,  that,  oth(;rwise  had  never  been  folt ! 
Shylock  called  but  for  the  i)cnalty,  which  his  debtor  had  agreed  to  pr^v  ; 
and  that,  in  lieu  of  cash,  ho  had  In  in  self  borrowed  and  employed,  but 
tliese  harj)ie.s — these  inexor  d)le  creditors  of  Nations — are  seeking  from 
the  present  generation  sums,  which  they  never  had,  or  agreed  to  repay ! 
And,  though  it  may  be  true  that  parents  will  take  upon  themselves  to 
answer  for,  and  make  engagements  in  behalf  of,  their  offspring,  at  the 
Baptismal  fount ;  we  have  yet  to  learn  the  authority,  that  shall  authorize 
8  nation  to  impawn  the  natural  patrimony  of  its  future  sons !  'IMuti'- 
fore,  wc  repeat,  that  wo  will  not  so  mbfx  the  comparatively  fair  ciiarac- 
tcr  of  the  Jew  of  Venice,  ;is  to  put  it  on  a  par  with  tho  more  unjust  and 
detestable  reputation  of  the  authors  and  supporters  of  this  Stock-Jobbing 
hoax. 

To  return  from  a  digression,  wiiich  our  indignation  at  such  a  robbery 
will  assuredly  excuse,  we  would  remind  the  reader  that  the  receipts,  or 
written  vouchers,  lor  these  National  Debts  were  made  transferable  at 
Uie  will  of  the  holder.     So  that,  unlike  conunon  mortgages,  th(?sc  Pos- 
terity-Incund)rance  Bonds  became  articles  of  traflick  and  speculation. 
When  mankind  therefore  are  tired  of  discharging,  or  become  unable  to 
fulfd  su(;h  ruinous  contracts,  as  their  fathers  have  made ;  the  suliercrs  by 
the  occurrence  will  not  be  merely  of  another  generation,  but  too  often 
of  another  description  than  the  original  perpetrators  of  so  unhallowed  a 
deed.    In  fact,  it  must  be  apparent  to  all,  who  have  examined  this  subject 
with  the  slightest  attention,  that  no  pains  have  been  spare<l  by  the  au- 
thor.s  and  supporters  of  the  Funding  System  to  rear  it  u|»oii  a  solid  foun- 
dation.   They  have  endeavoured  so  to  entwine  it  around  the  fi.xcd  insti- 
tutions v^f  society,  that  society  shouhl  be  compelled  to  support  this  per- 
petual incumbrance  and  disgrace.       And,  though  it  is  impossible  they 
could  forget  that,  when  an  earthquake  occurs,  the  solidity  an<l  extent  of 
our  buildings  do  but  increase  the  alarm  and  the  <listress  ;  they  have  been 
constantly  extending  throttghout  the  world  the  ran)ifications  of  their 
irheme.    A?  bemg  determined,  that,  if  tbry  must  fall  at  last — if  a  fman- 


18  Tht  Funding  System. 

their  independence,  or  their  lives.  Be  this  however  as  it  may,  it  is  ccr» 
tain,  that,  at  the  portentous  period  to  which  we  have  referred,  the  own- 
ers of  real  property  considered  it  expedient  to  cherish  the  serpent,  they 
had  nourished  till  it  stung  them  ;  instead  of  attempting  by  a  decisive  ef- 
fort to  strangle  it  at  once.  Thus,  there  was  experienced  a  very  general 
defection  from  the  ranks  of  those,  who  originally  opposed  these  insidious 
and  deadly  schemes  ;  until  they  received  that  fatal  addition  to,  and  con- 
firmation of  their  power,  by  the  total  suspension  of  Cash  Payments,  of 
which  the  most  distant  age*  will  read,  but  which,  we  hope,  the  deter- 
mination of  the  present  one  will  render  it  impossible  for  them  to  FEEf-. 

Theye,  then,  may  be  fairly  considered  as  a  portion  of  the  causes,  that 
prevented  the  honest  among  our  forefathers  from  rejecting  tliis  mo<lern 
d<!lusion,  with  the  inclignation  and  contempt,  it  so  richly  deserved.  And 
though,  when  become  more  fully  acquainted  with  its  bitter  results,  zre 
arc  apt  to  wonder  at  their  credulity  upon  the  subject,  we  ought  not  to 
condemn  them,  as  if  they  were  perfectly  aware  of  its  character  and  \\^ 
effects.  While,  therefore,  nothing  can  justify  the  cul|)ahle  negligence  of 
our  ancestors,  in  permitting  so  fital  an  inroad  to  be  made  upon  the  pe- 
cuniary independence  of  luture  generations ;  we  arc  glad  to  point  out  a 
paUiation  for  the  errors  of  those,  whose  memory  the  most  sacred  feel- 
ings of  our  nature  would  teach  us  to  honour  and  revere. 

This  duty,  as  we  conceived  it  to  be,  having  been  performed ;  we  pro- 
ceed to  notice,  in  another  Chapter,  the  career  of  these  united  Paper- 
Money  and  Funding  Schemes,  subsequent  to  the  total  suspension  of  Cash 
payments,  and  the  cstabhshment  of  Hugs  as  a  legal  tfndkr.  This  ca- 
reer, as  will  be  seen,  has  been  equally  extraordinary  in  its  nature  and  in 
its  effects.  For  the  period,  wherein  Paper  Money  was  a  legal  tender, 
and  which  might  well  be  termed  THE  PAPI^  AGE,  will  be  viewed 
with  woFider  in  the  pages  of  History ;  not  less  for  the  ast<mishing  im- 
povements  it  has  introduced,  than  for  the  pecuniary  inequality  and  mo- 
ral degadation,  which  it  has  so  unfortunately  entailed. 


^' 


Paptr   Money  a  Legal  Tender.  19 

CHAPTER  IV. 

-  » 

Paper  Money  a  Legal  Temkr, 

r 

In  punsuance  of  the  intimation,  given  at  the  close  of  the  last  Chapter, 
we  liave  now  to  review  the  course  that  was  pursued  by  the  Paper-Mo- 
ney and  Funding  Systems,  or  rather  by  their  supporters,  after  the  cessa- 
tion of  payments  in  cash,  and  the  transformation  of  Bank  Notes  into  a 
Legal  Tender.  Before  this  halcyon  period  of  puper  supremacy,  a  cre- 
ditor could  demand,  and  tlie  law  would  have  enforced  the  requisition,  a 
Cath  payment  of  the  sum,  which  was  legally  his  due.  lie  could  compel 
his  debtor  to  procure  him,  in  return  for  the  money,  or  the  goods,  which 
ho  had  lent,  an  article  that  "  neither  moth  nor  rust  doth  corrupt;  "  but 
which,  as  it  was  not  in  heaven,  our  Funding  adventurers  have  managed 
very  adroitly  to  "steal." 

This  gohlen  age,  like  most  others,  was  however  destined  to  have  an 
end;  and  we  must  hasten  to  notice  a  few  particulars  that  nmst  be  look- 
ed upon  as  conducive  to  its  close. 

It  sceOiS  then  that  the  Funding  Scheme,  during  its  earlier  stages,  as- 
sumed a  very  modest  air ;  and,  as  its  introducers  were  satisfied  to  pilfer 
but  a  few  Millions  at  a  time — and  these  from  posterity — their  pro- 
ceedings were  considered  as  being  too  insignificant  to  demand  either 
animadversion  or  alarm.  But  as  liabit  and  success  usually  make  rob- 
bers of  every  sort  more  daring  as  well  as  expert ;  they  quickly  produced 
their  accustomed  effects  upon  the  thieves,  whose  actions  now  claim  our 
more  particular  regard.  Till  the  wretches,  who  began  by  conunitting 
larceny  upon  after  ages,  ultimately  arrived  at  the  very  piimacle  of  fuian- 
cial  profligacy  and  political  disgrace.  For  it  ought  not  to  be  overlooked 
that,  among  other  reasons,  it  was  to  frame  an  excuse  for  such  robberies 
as  we  are  speaking  of,  they  engaged  in  those  extended  hostihties  which, 
for  So  long  a  period,  they  carried  on  in  the  Old  world ;  and  which  finally 
disturbed  the  tranquillity  of  the  JVexv.  For  about  a  Quarter  of  a  Centu- 
ry, they  fouirht,  that  they  might  borrow;  and  borrowed,  that  they  might 
fight  Until,  at  the  close  of  this  new  Peloponnesian  contest,  the  people 
of  England  discovered  that  they  had  to  "  pay  for  their  whistle,"  by  bein^ 
debited  with  the  enormous  sum  of  FOUR  THOUSAND  MILLIONS 
of  Dollars! ! '      When  viewing  so  very  gratifying  a  Debt — gratifyiog  in- 


r 


) 


22  Paper  Money  a  Les^al  Tender. 

the  notorious  Pitt.  This  Emperor  of  Empiricks  proposed,  by  this  mas- 
ter-piece of  (ju.-ickery — this  chef  d'ceuvre  of  delusion — to  pay  off"  all  the 
Deht  of  England,  by  the  operation  of  Compound  Interest !  Every  Loan 
thron<;h  the  operation  of  so  inimitable  a  consumer,  was  to  eat  itself,  by 
reserving  a  part  of  this  borrowed  capital  for  the  marvellous  labours  of 
Compound  Interest !  Thus  proving  that  this  new  principle  was  more 
potent  tlian  even  the  rod  of  Aaron ;  which,  though  it  swallowed  up  its 
brethren  by  the  score,  did  never  consume  itself  by  way  of  a  dessert. 
And  yet,  singular  as  was  thf^  power,  attributed  to  this  modern  twig,  it  ac- 
tually existed  and  was  deemed  infallible  for  many  years!  No  nostrum 
was  ever  more  popular,  in  i(s  day !  "the  people — the  acute  people  of 
Great  Britain — considered  that  they  might  safely  '.<orrow  ad  infinitum, 
and  DID  really  borrow  upwards  of  Four  Thousand  Millions  of  Dollars, 
upon  the  supposition  that  so  surprising  a  sum  could  be  discharged  by  the 
gemal  iiitlnence  of  Compound  Interest ! ! ! 

Yes ;  wonderful  as  the  circumstance  must  be  considered  by  all,  this 
?joNable  arrangement  was  held  in  high  estimation  by  the  soi  disant  states- 
men of  tiie  time.      An  arrangement,  by  which  every  spendthrift  might 
indulge  his  most  rxpensivr  gratifications,    without  apprehension  of  the 
result ;  so  that  he  happened  to  be  in  credit,  and — would  reserve  a  part 
of  I' in  horrowings  to  fructify  at  Compound  Interest !    \es;  such  a  system 
MS  THIS  «l(lud(Hl  the  people  of  England  to  their  financial  ruin;  and,  in 
fart,  was  so  pojiular  at  the  time,  that  several  claimants  existed  for  the  fa- 
tlitrsiiip  of  the^cheme!     And,  though  we  should  be  loath  to  say  much 
i!|>oi'  so  delicate  a  particular,  as  thereat  payrentagc  of  a  child;  we  may 
pcrlnps  b«5  ex<  u.^ed  if  we  hint  a  suggrsiion  about  the  origin  of  this  re- 
marlahle  brnt.      We  think  then — for  tiioigh:  i.-  geiterally  the  extremest 
poi.'t  tirat  iiMinaw  -agacity  can  attaui  on  an  inquiry  of  tliis  sort — we  think 
t;i..i  r'ii.xpi.  ki.tg  !'urid  kVas  generated  bv  impudence  and  Cunning,  and 
rr'..i   ipon  (.V.xl'ihty  iisclf      But,  be  tins  a?  ivn'ay,    i1  was  certainly  a 
.  I ,  i!0|»»»f.il  uf»!iia»ig     ui  d  on»^  that,  f(M  acuteness  and  use,  does  match 
.  ii.'iir  witli  I'lo  pro'cct  niihc  Lapuuan  philosopher,  who  strewed  tiie 
'  ltd   "»h  y-J'vjj'm  expectation  of  a  crop'      Doubtful,  however,  as  it  may 
,.<  1  »  wlKtni  ^o  ing:M!ii"i.s  a  >chcnio  is  indebted  for  its  birth;  it  is  not 
V  a,.'  (Uf  uis  anoertani  ^!io  was  its  nurse.     It  was  the  apostate  son  of 
I    ,.iis;;;.)'iK  Chatham  who  warmed  this  crocodiles  egg  mto  effective 
\.  ».  !i<  '•     wit!,  him,  therefore,  be  the  honour.-— or  the  disgrace 

Bu*    though  this  arrangement -cannot  he  deemed  to  have  performed  all 
...     ii   I  \T'.,n\  1,1  to  do — though  the  Debt  of4,  000,  000,  000  of  Dollars 


-^t^-,^^-r^rvm 


Paper  Money  a   Legal  Tender.  23 

remains  mucii  where  it  was  (at  least  as  tar  as  this  scheme  is  concerned) 
—and  tiioufjh,  indeed,  the  whole  is  now  a^jinitted,  on  ail  hands,  to  be  no- 
thing but  a  trick — it  did  accomplish  ail  tiiat  its  flagitious  patron  expect- 
ed it  to  perform!  It  served  to  amuse  and  deceive  the  public,  while  tlio 
robbery  progressed!  And,  now,  the  victims  of  the  delusion  are  utterly 
confoundeji ;  like  some  country  bumpkin,  who  having  been  slarmg  at 
Pancli,  amid  the  vagaries  of  a  Fair,  suddenly  finds  that  his  pockets  kavf 
been  picked  'while  the  "  Fun"  was  s^oing  on! ! 

.Inorticient,  however,  and  absurd  as  this  project  must  now  be  consi- 
dered, and  indignant  as  we  nmst  feel  against  the  j)lotter8  of  a  scheme, 
80  contemptible  as  well  as  base ;  it  actually  formed  the  sheet-anchor  of 
Financial  confuleiice  for  a  long  time.  Silly  as  it  must  appear,  at  the 
present  moment,  it  constitutes  an  answer — and  the  only  answer  wc  can 
supply — to  the  <piestion  in  hand.  It  was  by  this  Stock-o.\changf  juggle 
th«  lenders  of  this  unprecedented  Debt  expected  to  be  repaid  !  Ai  d  rf 
their  expectation,  in  this  case,  could  have  have  been  realized,  a  lia[»py, 
or  at  least  a  prosperous,  period  had  dawned  upon  th«?  world.  'I'lu'ii,  in- 
deed, mankind  w  ould  no  longer  have  had  occasion  to  regret  that  "  gohl- 
en  a<re,"  so  much  vaunted  of  old;  seeing  that,  then,  this  paper  age  had 
indisputably  carried  away  the  palm,  and  been  considered  the  ne  plus  ul- 
tra of  human  delight. 

But,  alas!  no  such  happy  era  appears  likely  to  arrive  ;  for,  as  we  hint- 
ed before,  this  delectable  arrangement  is  now  declared  to  be  yvholly  in- 
capable of  performing  the  oflice,  for  which  it  was  said  to  be  brought 
forth.  The  British  people  are  consecpiently  loft  to  discharge  their  obli- 
gations— if  theirs  they  be — by  that  excess  of  revenue  over  expenditure, 
which  forms  the  only  rational  Sinking  Fund,  the  world  has  ever  beheld. 
Whether  or  not  they  will  be  able  to  pay  off  a  Debt,  such  as  we  have  de- 
scribetl,  in  this  manner,  we  shall  not  stay  to  inquire;  but  we  hesitate  not 
to  declare  our  o|)inion,  that,  not  only  will  the  Principal  NHVER  bo 
paid,  but  that  the  i.ntf.kf.st  itself  will  have  shortly  to  be  curtaihul. 

This  then  was  the  origin,  design,  and  nature  ofth<!  SI.\KI\(i  Fund. 
A  Scheme,  that  received  the  most  appropriate  appellation,  which  was 
ever  given  to  a  system  of  quackery,  since  the  creation  of  tin;  world.  As 
it  not  merely  sunk  the  under.standmg  of  the  fathers,  but  also  the  social 
happiness,  moral  dignity,  and  pecuniary  ind«>pendeiirft  of  the  sons.  Nor, 
if  a  pun  may  be  allowed  on  such  a  subj»ict  as  this,  can  we  be  surprised 
at  the  sinking  condition  of  our  British  friends,  when  we  consider  that  it 


p 


r 
( 

26  Partial  Return   to  Cash  Payments. 

the  production  of  distress;  we  must  take  a  yet  more  extended  view  of 
the  situation  of  the  people  of  England,  at  the  termination  of  the  late 
wars.  We  must  follow  tiie  authors  of  their  hitancial  ruin  in  that  conti- 
nually descending  path,  wherein  they  have  caused  that  beautiful  country 
unhappily  to  proceed. 

As  we  mentioned  in  a  preceding  part  of  our  communication,  the  old 
association  about  peace,  plenty,  and  prosperity,  ytt  revelled  in  the  ima- 
gination of  the  British  public.       They  still  believed  that  this  "  triple  al- 
liance" was  in  force ;   and  it  was  not  till  a  fatal  experience  demonstrated 
their  mistake,  that  they  could  he  brought  to  acknowledge  the  fallacy  of 
their  hopes.    That  indeed  convinced  them,  thnt,  though  peace  and  plenty 
yet  cohabited  together ;  prosperity  at  least  iiad  discarded  the  connex- 
ion and  bidden  them  an  acheu.    It  may,  however,  be  considered  by  some 
that,   while  plenty  remained,  no  great  injury  at  any  rate  was  likely  to 
arrive.     Above  all,  they  may  suppose,  that  the  haggard  countenance  of 
WANT  couUl  never  appear.       But  such  an  opinion  could  be  entertained 
by  no  person  who  was  not  ignorant  of  the  systems,  we  have  attempted 
to  de.scrihe.       For  they,  who  arc  acquainted  with  their  nature,  know, 
that,  so  base  is  their  constitution,  they  would  ruin  even  a  second  Eden, 
and  plant  misery  and  destruction  bctieath  the  very  "  tree  of  life."     As, 
unlike  that  yet  future  age.  wherein,  it  is  said,  the  lion  and  the  lamb  shall 
live  in  unison  together  ;  this  paper  age  is  so  fertile  in  the  principles  of 
discord,  that  it  would  n^ake  oven  turtle  doves  disagree.    For  full  of  anoni- 
alies  and  contradictions  of  every  description ;  it  is  regular  and  uniform 
but  in  the  creation  of  immorality  and  distress. 

In  order  then  that  wo  may  obtain  a  better  glimpse  of  the  situation,  to 
which  their  operation  had  reduced  the  people  of  tiie  United  kingdoms 
of  Gt.  liritain  and  Ireland,  it  is  necessary  to  recollect,  that,  in  the  agree- 
ment, which  had  been  made  with  the  contractors  for  the  Loans,  it  was 
fully  under.'Jtood,  that  thi  re  should  be  a  Return  to  Cash  payments  (abo- 
lition of  a  paper  legal  tender),  wiV/jm  SIX  MOjVTHS  from  the  esfa- 
blishnent  of  Peace.  And  as  it  was  uncertain,  whether  this  part  of  the 
understanding  would  be  adhered  to,  or  not :  it  was  necessary  for  the  is- 
suers of  the  Paper  Money  to  prepare  for  the  return  of  that  CASH,  which 
their  machinations  had  banished  trom  the  land.  Now  this  could  be  ef- 
fected but  by  that  les.^cning  of  the  circulating  medium  (the  '  Rags'),  we 
have  before  sliown  to  be  the  sure  forerunner  of  a  fait.,  in  the  price  of 
th«ise  articles  which  it  is  virtually  appointed  to  appraise.  Such  a  con- 
traction, therefore,  of  the  standard  of  valuo,  as  would  permit  the  return 


Partial  Return  to  Cash  Payments. 


37 


and  circulation  of  the  Gold,  was  certain  to  produce  a  very  serious  re- 
auction  in  the  selling  value  of  all  the  products  of  the  ground.      And 
the  mere  preparation  for  such  an  event,  as  the  re-establiBliment  of  a  pure     . 
currency,  being   accompanied,  in  the  instance  before  us,  with  an  abun- 
dant harvest  and  a  large  importation  of  Foreign  grain,  caused  so  great  a 
depression  of  the  market  for  Agricultural  produce,  that  the  Farmers  in 
general  wern  involved  in  a  distress,  as  unexpected  as  it  was  great.    They 
could  no  longer  employ — or  employing  could  no  longer  pay— the  u^^ual 
nuir»her  of  labourers ;  and  much  less  those  hordes,  whom  the  discharge 
of  a  large  portion  of  the  army  and  navy  had  spread  about  the  country. 
Pauperism  therefore  universally  prevailed;  and  numbers  were  ready  to 
starve  amid  an  abundance,  that  was  unexampled  in  its  extent.    But,  as 
the  famine  prevailed  among  one  "  caste"  ami  the  plenty  existed  with  ano- 
th(  r ,  tliereoscemed  as  eflectual  a  "  gulph" — as  iinpassiblc  a  barrier — be- 
4w  (  en  the  mouths  of  these  famishing  helots  and  the  food  that  was  before 
th'ir  face,  as  between  Lazarus,  in  the  bosom  of  Abraham,  and  the  Rich 
Man,  who  "  lifted  up  his  eyes"  from  the  regions  of  the  damned.    Indeed 
tiie  state  of  these  starving  labourers — starving  amid  surrounding  abun- 
dance— strongly  rescmbltid  the  situation,  which  is  assigned  to  another 
inhabitant  of  this  Tartarean  depot.      For,  like  thirsty  Tantalus  in  the 
ever-receding  pt)ol,  they  were  constantly  in  sight  of  the  object  of  their 
de-ire  ;   but  which,  like  him  also,  they  were  not  "  predestinated"  to  re- 
ceive.     'J'here  was,  however,  some  dissimilarity  in  their  fate,  which  it 
W(nild  be  baseness  to  them  entirely  to  overlook ;  for,  though  he,  it  is 
said,  sutVered  for  crimes  that  he  had  done,  they  were  tormented  in  con- 
6e»iiiencc  of  evil,  which  others  had  been  base  enough  to  commit,    'i'lieir 
trouble  ditVered  also  from  his,  in  its  length  as  w<!ll  as  in  its  cause;  though 
we  shrewdly  suspect  that  the  contraction  of  their  vicarious  punishment 
may  be  fairly  attributed  to  the  just  apprehension  oi  their  tormentors,  that 
tin;  continuance  thereof  might  cause  it  to  lose  its  vicarious  character, 
by  falling  upon  themselves. 

He  this  as  it  may,  we  shall  fiml  tliat  they  deemed  it  expedient  to  take 
early  steps  towards  its  removal,  or  its  decrease.  Not,  however,  till  thev 
had  attempted  to  account  for  the  distress,  in  a  manner  which  demands 
our  passing  regard.  For  it  was  truly  ludicrous,  though  hateiiil,  to  wit- 
ness a  Borough-mongermg  Statesman  and  Fundholder  *'  showin'^  cause" 
WHY  super-abundance  produced  wa.nt.  Yet,  so  contemptible  an  ex- 
hibition was  offered  to  the  world!  For,  the  whole  herd  of  rulers,  who, 
mushroom  like,  had  sprung  from  the  dung-heap  of  political  corruptioo 


30  Partial  Return  to  Cash  Payments. 

and  no  false  one  can  deserve,  the  interference  of  the  civil  authority  for  its 
propajration  or  support.  Mucli  loss  docs  tlie  former  rctiuire— however 
the  latter  mi},'ht  receive — the  vociferous  and  senseless  approbation  of  the 
drunkards,  to  whom  mankind  ought  to  attribute  in  so  essential  a  degree 
tiic  pecuniary  dilficulties,  which  now  exist.  But,  not  only  does  all  rea- 
sonable religion  reject  the  extrinsick  support,  to  wiiich  we  have  referred ; 
she  also  disdains  that  deceptive  sort  of  maintenaiice  which  Ignorance  is 
sometimes  expected  to  aflord.  She  consequently  rejects  the  prop,  that 
hypocrisy  or  superstition  has  attempted  to  supply — hy  the  i-uppressioji  of 
the  xi-ritiugs,  which  their  followers  may  consider,  or  affect  to  consider,  as 
mjurious  to  her  cause.  Nor  is  this  confidence  in  its  strength,  which  a 
religion,  that  is  really  "  pure  and  undefiled,"  must  ever  experience,  sur- 
prising in  the  least.  For  that  Faith,  or  that  Doctrine,  which  will  not 
bear,  yea  that  does  not  court,  tiie  strictest  examination  and  research,  can 
have  little  aflinity  with  reason  or  with  truth.  Yes,  TRUE  rehgion  must 
defy,  as  well  as  despise,  even  the  keenest  satire  and  ridicule,  wJiich  wit 
and  profanity  could  unitedly  produce.  If,  indeed,  any  one  could  be  so 
desperately  profane,  as  to  employ  his  wit  in  the  ridicule  of  what  he  be- 
lieved to  be  a  religion,  that  emanated  from  his  Creator  and  his  Judge.  It 
follows,  therefore,  that  they,  who  bellow  for  a  suppression  or  wilhhold- 
ment  of  opinions,  upon  religious  subjects;  musl.either  be  insincere  in 
their  profession,  or  else  hehevc,  that  the  '  Word  of  God"  actually  calln 
for  the  puny  assistance  of  his  creature,  man.  That  is,  they  must  resem- 
ble tJie  characters,  whose  proceedings  have  introduced  the  present  di- 
gression, they  MUST  HE  EITHER  HYPOCRITES  OR  FOOLS 
We  shall  leave  (hem  then  to  choose  between  the  two ;  while  we  return 
to  a  class  of  men,  whose  conduct  shows  them  to  have  been,  indispu- 
tably, both. 

\\  hen,  tiien,  our  "  last  shilling"  gentry  discovered  that  they  had  con- 
tracted debts,  which  all  their  shillings  would  be  unable  to  discharge- 
when  they  began  to  apprehend  tliat  the  ghosu^f  their  departed  property, 
like  Death  in  the  table,  would  rise  before  their  view— they  earnestly  de- 
sired yet  another '  warnnig,'  before  they  should  be  prepared  to  part  from 
the  heritage  of  their  sires.  They  eagerly  sought*  yet  further  delay.  /Vnd 
a  delay  of  what  ^  A  d.-lay  in  the  fulfilment  of  a  contract,  which,  how- 
rxor  unjust  as  it  respected  the  people  at  largeNwas  true,  honorable,  and 
proper,  as  it  regarded  then.  Nevertheless,  even  these  worthies  jomed  ^ 
their  more  sane  fellow-sufferers,  in  reque.stmg  a  delav  of  that  return  to 


Par/iol  Kefiirn  to  Cash  Payments.  31 

Cash  raymcnts,  wiiicli  thcv  so  justly  a}(j)rc'lieiKl«!<l  as  th«;  producer  of 
their  confusion  and  distress. 

Pressed,  tlierofbre,  by  such  conlhcUn<r  mtcrcsts,  us  we  have  pointed 
out,  llie  government  for  a  long  time  imitated  the  irresolution  of  the  ass, 
that,  like  Mahomet's  coilin  between  the  loadstones   remained  balanced 
by  tlie  equally  attractive  odour  of  two  bundles  of  hay.     At  len^rth  how- 
ever a  statu  ol"  things  arose,  which,  asses  as  they  wore,  would  no  longer 
allow  them  to  hesitate  or  delay.      i'or,  as  they  hud  repeatedUj  deferred 
that  restoration  of  a  SPECIC  I.KGAL  TENDEK,  which,  as  we  havo 
seen,  was  to  take  place  within  six  months  of  the  conclusion  of  the  war, 
the  Rag  merchants  inundated  the  country  with  the  worthless  ware,  they 
arc  employed  to  manufacture  and  to  f'cll.     Jiy  ihirf  means  the  main  arti- 
cles of  produce  were  raised,  as  they  ever  will  be  by  any  essential  increaso 
of  the  standard,  which  appraises  their  worth  ;   w  hetlier  it  be  of  paper  or 
of  coin.      And  this  ellect,  this  raising  the  price  of  produce,  was  greatly 
accelerated  and  increased,  in  the  instance  before  us,  by  the  passing  of  a 
new  Law,  respecting  the  importation *ot"  gram.      Since  this  celei)rated 
'  Com  Bill  "  lessened  the  quantity  of  the  articles  to  Lc  measured,  while 
tlie  increase  of  the  circulation  enlarged  the  measure,  by  which  their  va- 
lue was  to  be  determined  and  declared.    But  while  our  conjurers,  by  a 
double  alteration  of  this  sort,  withdrew  some  of  the  Farmers  from  that 
"  slough  of  despond,'  into  which  the  low  prices  had  precqtilated  tlium 
all  together ;  they  thereby  huddlod  the  Manufacturers  into  a  similar  i)it. 
Charming  situation  for  a  country,  for  having  delivered  which  from  its  im- 
pending disasters,  the  present  Secretary  of  State  (tliat  really  accompUsJi- 
ed  orator,  Mr.  Canning,)  celebrated  our  Sinking-Fund  Patron,  as  the 
"  pilot  who  zi-euthered  ilie  storm  !  '    Weathered,  indeed,  when  no  sooner 
has  this  stately,  but  ill  navigated,  vessel  cleared  tiie  Charybdis  of  Agri- 
cultural distress,  than  she  iinds  herself  involved  among  the  breakers 
which  announce  a  nearness  to  tliat  fatal  Scylla,  Manufacturing  alarm. 
For  the  peace  having  placed  the  manufacturers  of  England  in  competition 
With  the  less  skilful  but  also  less  burdened  manufacturers  of  the  rest  of 
the  world,  they  could  no  longer  bear  those  High  Prices,  whicli,  during 
the  war,  had  been  the  main  source  of  their  vigour  and  success.      liow 
PRicr-s,   therefore,  became  essential  to  the  prosperity  of  the  Foreign 
Trade,  and  all  the  business  dependent  thereupon  ;  although  so  destruct- 
ive to  all,  who  rely  for  their  support  upon  the  products  of  the  grou;,d. 
As  not  more  dissimilar  was  the  pleasure  of  the  "  School-Boys  and  ihe 


p 


36  Ji  Mixed  Currency. 

last  year  obtained  the  means,  whereby  they  have  scattered  distrust,  em- 
barrassment, and  distress  through  the  tour  (juarters  of  the  globe. 

But,  it  may  he  said,  ahhough  an  augmentation  of  the  currency  will 
depreciate  the  zt7to/e  of  it,  why  should  it  have  a  different  effect  upon  the 
paper  and  the  gold  I  As  they  descend  together  and  alike  upon  the  scale 
of  value,  why  not  continue  to  jog  along,  like  some  loving  couple,  in  the 
businesses  of  life  ?  Why,  where  both  are  apparently  on  the  same  foot- 
ing and  employed  in  the  same  occupation  (both  being  measurers  of  va- 
lue) is  "  one  taken  and  the  other  left"  ?  For  even  the  consideration, 
that  "  two  of  a  trade  can  never  agree,"  cannot  here  be  applied  ;  since 
the  speculating  tribe  will  ever  discover  an  ample  employment  for  them 
both,  whether  in  unison  or  alone.  It  consccjueutly  follows  that  we  must 
look  to  some  other  »|uarter  for  an  answer  to  the  intpiiry — why  Paper- 
Money  an«l  (iolden  Money  will  not  continue  to  circulate  togetlier,  in 
Knjjiand,  while  butk  remain  a  Legal  Tender. 

Were  we  in  the  island,  wiiich,  for  the  sake  of  illustration,  we  introdu- 
ced in  a  preceding  chapt(;r,  we  should  be  puzzled  to  account  for  the  dis- 
appearance of  the  gold,  when  in  e<pial  contest  with  the  paper,  as  it 
woiild  he,  if  added  to  the  money  circulation  which  we  supposed  to  be  in 
thai  place,  iii  fact,  it  wouhl  he  inijiossiblc  to  account  for  it  iherc;  and 
for  this  satisfactory  reason — it  could  never  occur.  The  gold  might  be 
athlcd  to  the  circulation,  but  in  that  it  would  remain  ;  it  would  indeed,  by 
such  an  addition,  ciiIkuico  the  price  of  all  the  articles  upon  the  isle,  but 
witli  the  Dollars,  wlu-thcr  these  were  of  paper  or  in  coin,  it  couhl  by  no 
means  interfere.  For  there,  in  truth,  Hags  and  d'old— Silver  and  I'o.ste- 
rity-robbiiig  Bonds  might  all  b<;  brought  to  augment  the  circulation,  and 
that,  without  producing  the  slightest  complaint.  We  forgot  ourselves,  not 
the  Bonds,  for  these  would  ultimately  turn  even  such  an  insulated  spot, 
which  might  be  called  the"  New  Iformnnf  of  pecuniary  circulation,  in- 
to little  other  than  an  arena  for  discoril  and  distress. 

But  as  Britain,  though  an  island,  is  by  no  means  .such  an  island  as  we 
have  raised  within  our  lines— as  her  inhabitants,  unlike  the  islanders 
for  wluim  we  have  rccpn^^ted  the  reader  to  suppo.<Je  "  a  habitation,"  if  not 
a  name,  do  hold  comnnuiication  with  the  rest  of  the  world — and,  as  there 
are  other,  and  neighbo\iring,  <-ountrios,  wherein  paper  is  NOT  a  i.v.- 
OAi.  TENDER- the  attempt  to  introduce  a  Mi.xed  Currency,  in  England, 
would  seem  to  indicate  a  dulncss  (,f  financial  ob.servation,  as  intense  as 
the  supposed  ocular  oblusenes.s  of  ihp  mole  lUself  For.  how  could  it  be 
*rpected  that  the  gold  would  remam    whpr.^  it  was  debased  bv  the  m- 


* 


">  xi   iMwed  Vu/ranii/.  37 

vernuAiurc  ol  iegai-lciidor  rugg;  whon,  by  I'.rossing  the  clianuei,  it  would 
receive  a  consideration  of  so  much  larger  an  extent  Indeed  it  seem* 
so  clear,  that  the  (Jold  must  be  depreciated,  wliile  circulating  with  legal- 
lender  Paper,  and  that,  when  essentially  uepreciated,  it  nmst  ^o  where 
it.s  character  in  more  respected  and  its  value  maintained  ;  we  ssay  this  is 
!^o  clear,  that  we  cannot  but  feci  very  great  astonishment  at  the  altcmj)! 
to  introduce  a  JMixcd  Currency,  which  tiic  English  ministry  were  induced 
to  undertake. 

But,  tliough  surprised  at  the  attempt,  wc  have  by  no  means  been  <lis 
appointed  in  the  effects  or  the  result.  The  consequences  of  again  opiu- 
lug  the  sluices,  for  a  paper  inundation,  have  served  at  once  to  illustratt? 
and  confirm  our  views,  respecting  Currency  and  Finance.  We  shall  con- 
sequently advert  to  them  briefly  ;  the  more  especially  as  a  <-onsideration 
J  hereof  may  be  useful,  as  a  warning,  against  the  reflux  of  that  paper  tide, 
which  has  lately  ebbed  with  such  tremendous  effects.  l>ut,  before  wo 
can  discern  precisely  the  full  extent  and  weight  of  the  consequences, 
that  have  been  produced  by  this  pccmiiary  deluge,  it  is  necessary  to  r<'- 
vert  to  the  state  of  England,  just  before  the  commencement  of  the  flootl. 
This  has  indeed  been  noticed  already;  and  W(;  shall,  therefore,  merely 
recall  the  attention  of  the  reader  to  facts,  wluch  are,  in  genera!,  before 
Mm  in  the  preceding  pages. 

It  will  then  be  recollected,  that  tho  partial  return  to  Cash  payments, 
to  which  we  referred  in  Chapter  the  fifth,  had  greatly  reduced  tlie  prico 
4»f  raw  produce.    Gradual  and  imperfect  as,  at  best,  it  wa.-f — incomplete 
as,  alone,  it  was  suffered  to  be — early  as  \va?  the  fall,  it  was  destined  to 
receive — this  return  of  the  gold  spread  terror  and  distress,  through  all 
the  population,  who  de[)ended  upon  Agrieulture  for  occupation  <)r  suj)- 
port.    Even  the  articles  of  general  use  in  the  manufactures  of  the  coun- 
try, and  which  were  imported  from  Foreign  nations,  also  felt  the  all-per- 
vaduig  power  of  that  contraction  of  th(!  circulation,  which  wa.s  necesaary 
to  a  return  of  the  gold.     These,  therefore,  like  tin;  Domestic  prodacts, 
were  jlow  in  price  ;  and,  as  is  usual  now  when  that  is  the  c:Lse,  wer(i 
SLOW  OF  saCb.     They  sold  but  as  they  were  wanted  j'ur  immediaiv  u»e  ; 
because,  under  a  CASH  regime,  SPECULATION  is  asleep'     Thn 
then  was  the  picture  that  Enpland  presented,  before  tlie  immdation  of 
the  Rags  ;  and  we  now  proceed  to  notice  its  situation,  during  the  rise, 
;ind  subsidence  of  the  waters,     And,  wc  shall  perceive  lliat,  though  thi-? 
paper  hjumlalion  stirp.i?«od,  in  the  extent  of  its  iulhience ,  tfVGTi  tha  over- 
'iowings  of  the  Nile  .  unlike  the  srdimont,  deposited  by  tjiat  usefid  ri'Cf* 


K 


*     »   .  • 


40  »^   AfLred  Currency.  r-. 

sceiid—  no,  unlike  the  iiianOo  of  the  {.rophct.  they  a<irtnd  to  the  succes- 
sors oI'iIk!  doliim-t  Stock  Broker  ;  as  even  charity  itsolf  will  not  cnablr 
lis  to  siipposr  that  thi*grftetly  race  can  attain  a  more  exalted  situation 
in  another  worhl,  than  what  their  inimitable  tart  in  lying  generally  pro 
nires  tor  them  in  this.  Therefore,  as  might  bo  expected,  they  shew  a 
similar  spirit,  in  Lancashire  or  Yorkshire,  as  they  had  ever  exhibited  on 
the  Stock  Ivvchange  ;  ami  snnilar,  though  somewhat  more  highly  colour 
c(l  and  extensive,  effects  attended  their  career.  Doubt  and  rumour 
were  the  avant  couriers  of  their  procession  ;  noise  and  delusion  the  com 
pauions  of  their  march  ,  and  lanu-ntation  and  woe  followed  in  their  train 
ln<lc('tl,  as  far  as  the  close  of  the  scene  is  concerned,  the  picture  ol 
"  Death  tipon  a  pale  tu'ise"  might  ha  justly  employtid  to  represent  thf 
progress  of  this  speculating  race.  For,  if  we  so  far  encourage  our  ima 
gin;ition  as  to  entbody  the  whole,  upon  a  pale  horse  ;  wc  see  no  "  law 
fill  cause  f>r  impi'diujent,'  why  they  andtiicir  followers  should  not  be  ta 
k«Mi  for  the  "  king  of  terrors,"  with  "  hell"  following  in  his  rear. 

We  wish  not,  however,  to  be  understood  as  asserting,  that  tlie  full  ei 
tent  of  th(!  speculations,  which  are  now  so  deeply  lamented,  by  the  dvpc^ 
in  the  affair,  are  to  be  attributed  to  the  direct  agency  of  the  capitalistN 
of  the  day.     No  ;  with  that  cunning,  which  education  has  made  habitu- 
al to  this  i;Hh.  tribe  of  the  children  of  Israel,  they  withdrew  from  the 
scheme  before  the  bubble  was  fully  blown.     Thtrj  but  commenced,  and 
reaped  the  first-fruits  of  a  delusive  advance,  that  has  spread  disappoitit- 
ment  and  penury,  misery  and  immorality,  throughout  the  fairest  portions 
of  iliii  eanli.     While  it  has  very  materially  increased  that  inequality  of 
prppertij,  which  wc  have  already  pointed  out  as  one  of  the  more  hateful 
and  dangerous  consequences  of  these  paper  schemes.     But,  though  we 
do  not  charge  the  Paper-Money  and  Funding  systems  with  being  the  pa- 
rents of  «//,  who  eng:iged  in  the  nationally  disastrious  speculations  of  the 
past  year;  we  consider  their  supporters  and  friends  as  morally  responsi- 
ble for  the  totality  of  the  evil,  which  has  been  thereby  produced.    As  the 
man,  who  wilfully  destroy.?  a  dam,  is  legally  and  justly  answerable  for  all 
h.'  inpiry,  which  a  consequential  inundation  may  happen  to  occasion. 
-\t  the  same  time,  therefore,  that  we  exculpate  the   «ag  Mam.factoiy 
from  any  charge  of  b.-ing  the  source,  which  supplied  all  the  corrup- 
stream<  of  speculation,  that  meandered  through  the  mercantile  wcil.l 
«=omefewnumthsago,  we  do  distmctly  name  it  as  the  head,  wliencr 
the  piin;  ip;il  and  most  pestilential  river  received  its  origin  and  its  sup- 
i^ort      'I  l,is  was  in  truth  «  Stveian  flood  ;  except  in  this  partir-nlar   tb'nt 


#* 


.^   Mixed  (Jurrenvy.  41 

whoreus  tlio  uatcra  of  the  Tiirtarean  riviT  uero  said  to  lull  the  drinkers 
tlier(!of  in  subscqneyit  stuj)i(lity  ;  it  v.  as  necessary  that  tho  partakers  of  the 
speculating  draught  should  be  stupid  crc  they  bcirun.  '    - 

It  will,  thcu,  or  rather  it  must  now  be  apparent  to  the  aft«nitive  reader, 
that  we  have  so  far  exhibited  the  nature  and  efl'octs  of  (he  Paper-Money 
and  Funding  Systems,  as  to  prove  that  these  Systems  are  (he  true  "  Cau- 
ses of  Distress,"  whicii  it  Ikis  been  our  dosirrn  to  exhiint  and  denounce. 
For,  \v.i  havosiiown  that  in  tliem  orijrinatc  tiiat  extended,  though  ficti- 
tious, Caj)ital,  with  its  hopeful  ofl'spring  an  uid)ouudcd  Credit,  which  have 
rendered  business  the  LOTTERY,  it  is  become.  Yes,  tliose  occupa- 
tions to  which  an  hone.st  man  was  wont  to  look  for  a  liviiis^  for  himself 
and  his  family,  arc  now  carried  on  upon  such  principles  and  extent,  that 
(hey,  who  adventure  therein,  can  be  merely  drawing  to  see — whether  it 
will  most  subserve  (heir  interest,  to  appear  as  honest  men  or  as  rogues! 
To  use  the  elegant  phraseology  of  (lie  tribe,  each  member  thereof  deter- 
mines to  be  "  either  a  man  or  a  mouse ;"  and,  judging  from  the  result,  w<^ 
imagine  it  must  be  the  latter,  inasnuieli  as  he  exists,  like  that  ndsrhiev- 
ous  little  animal,  upon  tlic  produco  which  he  steals  from  the  lal)our  of 
nnother.  At  any  rate,  they  expect  either  to  rise  to  fortune,  or  to  take 
'the  Benefit  of  the  Act,"  which  the  Legislature  has  very  considerately 
provided,  for  the  relief  iS  tho  disapjiointed  among  the  moloworking 
thieves.  As  to  their  more  fortunate  brethren,  they  may  appear  saints  of 
the  very  first  water,  vnlcy.  they  s[>cculate  in  Uplands,  at  30  Cents  per 
pound,  or  in  South  American  Bonds,  at  one  or  two  thousand  per  Cent, 
above  par. 

It  will,  moreover,  be  apparent  to  such  a  reader,  as  we  have  supposed, 
that  the  Cajital,  referred  to,  with  the  Credit  which  attends  upon  it,  are  so 
very  great — that  they  enable  their  y)ossessors  to  carry  on  Business,  upon 
so  extensive  a  scale,  and  therefore  at  so  low  a  rate  of  Profit — it  must 
be  impossible  for  an  honest  man  of  small  means  to  compete  with  thera 
therein.  The  more  especially  as  the  school,  in  whirh  our  adv«'nturers 
hjivc  been  taught,  is  one  not  calculated  to  make  thorn  over  scrupulous  ps 
to  tho  mean?,  or  (he  manner,  by  which  they  may  circumvent  a  neighbour 
or  mi.slead  ti  friend.  Putting  gain  t'or  honours,  ihey  ju.^'t  rrverxe  the  .seti- 
liment,  \vhi(;h  Tasso  has  attributed  to  onr*  of  his  h'Toes,  and  which 
floole  has  ])ointedly  rendered  iti  the  following  lines. 

"For  rather  would  1  ri.^e,  (thu  cliicf  replit.'.-.; 
"To  .MERIT  honours,  than  to  honours  rise." 

In(h"''(?  our  S[»e<'ulators  r*'c<.l|rrt  the  ijiiunction.  '-nid  (ohavp  hrov  given 


4'» 


.7  JIu'ed  Current  I/. 


"     We  arc  aware,  mdced.  that  these  cniulul  jrcuUciaen  dccluru  to  liit 
world,  that  their  manufacluring  superiority  has  risen,  m  si>iVc  o/ protect 
.vc  or  prohibitorv.  regulations;  but.  if  you  ask  a  proof  of  this,  they  uni- 
late  the  veracious  Fal^talV.  and  tell  you,  they  >viil  give  no  reason  "  upo,i 
.ompuhion:'    Aud.  when  this  evasion  will  not  avail,  they  set  a  precedent 
which  appears  to  have  been  followed  with  much  accuracy  by  some  oi 
llie  pohtician«  in  this  country,  who  waxed  warm  about  the  late  President 
ial  choice.     For  both  oi'  tliem  tell  an  en(iuxrer  after  their  proofs,  that  thoy 
dispense  with  these,  seeing  that  tlieir  assertions  speak  for  themselves 
«ut,  unfortunotely  for  thoir  authors,  as  these  talkative  asseverations  do 
talk  of  any  thing,  and  prove  any  tiling,  rather  than  their  own  accuracs 
und  truth  ;  it  is  not  to  be  wondered  at,  should   they  continue  to  meo; 
wliat  they  have  liitherto  encountered,  that  is,  little  else  than  denial  and 
•inbehef       For,  as  the  age  of  passive  obedience  has  long  descended  to 
ih(!  tomb  of  the  Capulets,  that  of  pas>ive  te/iV/ appears  unwiUing  to  liv» 
without  its  mato.      Mankind  will  no  longer  r4!ceivc  the  ipse  dixit  of  an} 
man,  or  set  of  men,  without  examination ;  but  will  demand  strictly  and 
constantly  a  reason  for  the  opinions,  which  he.  or  tiiey,  may  be  desirous 
U)  promulgate  and  impress. 

Wo  would,  therefore,  humbly  but  earnestly  recommend  the  companl 
oiH,  follow«Ts.  and  frit'n<ls,  of  the  aforesaid  pohticians,  whether  on  tii. 
banks  of  the  Potomac,  or  the  Tiiames,  to  encourage  accuracy  of  state- 
ment, in  the  room  of  verbosity  of  speech.       As,  it  is  possible,  tha?.  /;/ 
rhnm^ing  their  old  habits,  thcy  may  keep  within  the  truth  ;  whereas  no 
rational  expectation  can  be  entertained,  that  any  change,  w  Inch  they  can 
undergo,  will  en:ihlc  them  to  make  a  speech,  the  matter  and  diction  ui 
which  t:iiall  make  up  for  any  grcuit  protraction  of  address.     Wo  conse- 
quently urge  them  to  hunt  atu-r  proofs  ;  and  as  the  leader  of  the  Wash 
nigtoii  coterie  is  about  to  join  his  brother  chips,  across  the  Atlantic — si- 
inilis  fiiiiili  g<iv<ht — wc  may  hope  for  much  useful  information  from  thoii 
united  research.     And,  advice  of  a  similar  description  may  well  be  given 
to  any  politician  who  may  meditate  about  an  attack  upon  the  TarilV  iiill 
Since  such  an  one  may  be  assured  that  he  w  ill  advance  his  object  much 
more  elVectually,  by  proviii'^  the  practical  evils,  which  he  may  considi ; 
the  Bill  in  question  to  have  introduced;  than  by  any  reference  to  tlif 
-upposcd  opinion  of  Foreign  functionaries,  who  must  be  desirous  oi 
its  abolition ;  and  whose  constant  practice  opposes  the  theory,  thcy  nr' 
tend  to  approve,  fttid  are  so  desirous  to  recommend 


JPolilical  (md  Moral  EJJecis  ^-c.  45 

CHAPTER  VII. 

Political  and  Moral  Effects  of  the  Paper-Money  and 

Funding  Systems. 

VVk  have  now  to  glance  at  the  j)ohtical  expediency  and  moral  eflccts 
of  those  systems  of  Currency  and  Finance,  the  pecuniary  consc(}uence3 
of  which,  we  have  already  reviewed.  Tor  it  will  be  necessary  to  say 
something  on  both  these  particulars  ;  although  some  persons  niight  con- 
sider that  a  proof  of  their  inunoral  tendcMicy  would  carry  with  it  a  suili- 
cient  assurance  of  their  inexpediency  in  a  political  light.  But  such  an 
opinion  in  no  wise  obtains,  among  politicians  in  general;  and  we  hope, 
therefore,  to  be  pardoned  for  liividing  the  coiisideration,  nnd  submitting 
a  few  remarks  on  either  branch,  \\\\\c\\  the  division  supplies. 

Perhap.s,  then,  there  is  no  more  satisfactory  or  easy  method  of  ascer- 
taining, whether  any  systeni  is  injurious,  or  brnffirinl,  «<»  SonDy,  than 
to  incjuire  how  it  would  aflect  an  indillerenl  nirmlxr  of  it.  And,  l>y  ap- 
plying this  test  to  the  question  before  us,  we  may  judge  pn  tly  <f)irt<tly 
about  the  policy  of  the  Pai)er  Sciicmes.  For  we  shall  I),  lug  the  i)oint, 
respecting  their  inlluence  <ui  national  concerns,  to  a  clear  and  determi- 
nate issue;  by  considering  whether,  or  not,  the  power,  respect.ability,  or 
independence,  of  an  individual  be  increase*!,  I5V  HIS  JJFINCi  IN 
DEI5T!  Since  we  defy  the  most  acute  logician  (o  point  otit  Juiy  diflrr- 
ence,  essential  to  the  argument,  between  the  case  of  an  individual  and  a 
nation,  but  what  gliall  be  in  favour  of  the  former  of  the  two.  That  is,  if 
we  suppose  that  both  are  involved  to  the  exl«!nl  <jf  their  credit  and  their 
means.  As  the  individual  may  receive  relief  from  his  friends;  or,  even 
that  resource  failing  hirn  at  last,  he  can  appeal  to  the  Law,  which  the 
Legislature  has  provided  for  his  encouragement — no  not  his  encourage- 
ment but  his  relief  But,  where  arc  tin;  friends,  and  which  the  court, 
that  can  adequately  relieve  an  INSOLVENT  NATION  ? 

It  may  however  be  said,  and  indeed  the  assertion  is  frecjuently  advan- 
ced, that,  if  a  country  is  indebted  to  its  own  <  itizk.ns,  it  signifies  little 
what  is  the  amount  of  the  Debt,  it  may  happf.'n  to  owr.  LkUmmI  a  very 
pious  Judge — not  in  Israel  but  in  Fiiigland — declared  that  their  Debt  was 
a  national  bi.essim;  ;  although  the  ignorant  boors  will  perversely  consi- 
der it,  still,  as  "  confoundedly"  like  a  curse.  But  without  deciding  the 
point,  l)etween  the  husi)andnien  and  the  jn<lge,  as  to  the  character  of  the 

Debt ;  we  mav  proceed  to  consider  the  dir^tiuction,  respecting  it-  l.>  n  » 
F 


w 


46  Polificitl  ami  Moral  Effects 

duo  t(.  the  citizens  of  the  state,  with  all  tlu-  att.MUion  o»ir  limits  will  per- 
mit 

Now,  if  a  country  were  comiilclely  isolated  in  its  concerns— and,  if 

its  inhahifants  could  not  emij^ratc  to  other  .-ountries— there  might  be  a 

Hli<,'lit  (Ujrrce  of  plausibility  in  a  statement,  which,  as  applied  to  any  ex- 

isthiK  country,  is  weak  as  well  as  false.     Hut  even  tlien,  though  less  ap- 

par(;iitly  absurd,  it  would  be  essentially  incorrect.      As,  however,  we  are 

at  present  unac(iu:iintcd  with  any  country  of  this  sort,  and  are  likely  to 

remain  e<iually  ignorant— at  lea.st  until  Captain  Syiiunes  shall  have  peii- 

ctrate.l  to  what  were  oiicc  con.«*i(lered  the  ImiwiIs  of  the  earth— we  will 

wait  his  return  before  we  entertain  a  supposition,  so  inapplicable  as  lliw. 

In  the  mean  while  we  will  just  notice  the  proposition,  as  applied  to  the 

niti(»n,  in  reference  t(»  whuh  it  is  most  conunuidy  advanced. 

If  tlun  we  consider  that  a  country,  like  lircat  Uritaiii,  is  niaudy  «le- 
piMidcnt  for  its  power  upon  its  Foreign  Truih— that  this  tra»h'  rr.i>  prui- 
cipally  on  its  M.iiiufactnrinir  •ii<lii='try  that  ihr  maintenance,  ur  ml  . .  ^-j. 
..ftliis  liHlu.slry  very  essenliully  <l«  |Miuls  on  its  ability  to  competk  with 
tli:it  of  ntlicr  countries — that  this  ability  relies,  in  a  great  dc^free,  upon 
the  comparative  price  of  Ajiriciihural  produce — if  we  remember  all  tins, 
and  thon  ronsijhrthat  this  Agricultural  pr«»dun',  winch  is  the  foundation 
of  iIh-  naticmal  power,  MUST  BK  DIIAK,  wlun  a  country  is  deeply  in 
l)t.l,t — wi:  shall  be  hardly  likely  to  dctcrnune  that,  to  be  deeply  in  Debt 
is  a  desirable  situation  for  such  a  nation,  even  though  its  own  citizeiw  bo 
the  creditors  and  u  second  Soluman  had  declared  a  National  Debt  to  be 
a  good  tiling. 

Indeed,  the  Debt  of  a  nation  being  due  to  the  inhabitants  of  it,  duos 
by  no  mt^aiis  lessen  the  burden,  which  it  causes  to  fall  upon  tlie  Industry 
of  the  country.  Although,  we  arc  ready  to  admit,  that  such  a  circum- 
stance hits  a  tendency  of  this  sort,  as  far  as  the  Home  Market  is  solely 
concerned.  VVc  know  too  that  a  nation,  through  the  superiority  of  its 
manufacturing  facihties,  or  skill,  may  long  proceed,  with  apparent  suc- 
rp<5s,  notwithstanding  a  very  onerous  taxation  ;  and  that  in  opposition  to 
countries,  much  less  burdened  than  itself  But  does  it  follow  from  such 
Jin  admission,  that  this  taxation  is  a  blessing  to  the  state;  or  tliat  it  is 
cdudurivc  to  its  independence  and  its  power?  If  strong,  pros|>€rous, 
and  of  great  consideration,  with  it.  what,  we  submit,  might  it  not  rea- 
Mtiiably  be  expected  to  present,  if  it  weru  withoit  it1  Hence  wc  con- 
r'Mde  tint  n  is  contrary  to  the  true  interest  of  a  country  to  have  a  large 
VnUx:  and  that,  therclore,  the  Paper-Money  and   rundmg  Svstems,  in 


Of  the  Paper- Money  and  Fundiui^  Systems.  4/ 

whioli  such  Debts  ori^jiirate  and  by  wliuli  they  are  maintained,  are  as 
im{Mjhti('  as  they  ar«>  unjust. 

Stronfj  however  u.s  w  our  conviction  of  the  impolicy  of  th«?  Taper  ar- 
ran^'ciiK-utji ,  we  hold  that  their  unmoral  temh  iiry  is  yet  more  indisputa- 
ble ami  clear.  Imleed,  were  we  mclined  to  press  the  Hihlu  into  the  ar- 
fUHieiit,  the  |K>uit  im>;tit  he  shortly  (letMded  by  consi»leriii<^  the  compati- 
bility ul'llic  S}»U'UU,  utque«ttou,  uilli  liit?  prayer  ul' A L'ur  ;  the  true  van- 
duui  of  wluch experience  cunrirnis,  however  it  may  Ih'  disre};ard«>d  among 
luaiiLuidat  Urge.  Wit,  if  it  wad  wt>e  to  solirit  the  Supreme  Being  tu 
gnuit  iM'ilh<r  'idieK  lUir  |ioverty  ,  how  unwi>e  and  inunoral  to  encourage 
l*».i.  m-  111'  ;•-  r|Nti<alt<i»ih*iH'y  <»f  which  is  to  cover  the  earth  with  |»en- 
ur\  ajul  wealth*  Kul  we  wi«h  not  tti  brui;;,  what  is  called,  reli^'ion  into 
Uk-  i{Ui>tiou.  M..  Mtidt  l<i  apical  lo  the  reason,  and  not  to  the  feel- 

i\%«*  t»\'  iIm*  reailer     If  we  fail  iii  an  all*  uipl  tu  convnice  bis  understand* 
\u.  iiieftna  Hu  Ji^T'^uii  to  lievk  a  iriuuiph  throu:rh  his  credulity  ur  hin 

frar 

\\ .  .1-  h<itir«Lf  tiat  ntich  an  ap|R'al,  in  the  m>tanre  Utore  u:^,  is 

tt  1^  •■ver  MiireaMHu'.de  and  uajust.      For,  if  it  be  triio 
llutuohon'  >  into  a'ly  bu.MUi.'ss,  wli<>rein  the  Capital  and 

(Jtedil,  that  ha\c  lie<-n  inlrodu«'ed  bv  thi-  I*:vi»«t  S«hemes,  can  by  possibi- 
lity asiad  luin.  witlioul  ccilam  l«>>  lUjif  itny  une  tu  jmie  that, 
t.Af re  titktr  fun/iliVi  art  tnual,  iki$  ii  uot  thr  infvitahte  ntiili ;  we  j'ay,  if 
Uiui  be  a  fact,  we  wanl  no  other  to  deinon<tralo  the  immoral  teiMlenry  of 
llie  caiw4>».  wlu«  h  bavr  priMliicrd  »iich  an  cflect.  Since,  if  a  man  iiniit 
bo  citlier  a  paiiiM-r,  «»r  a  n»{rue.  and  tin*  pres<«iit  systcin  of  money  matters 
fkill  iiltiiiiatel)  c«ini|Ml  him  to  Im*  «Hie  of  the  two;  it  is  not  \o  he  doubted 
whirh  oftlH  ni  will  b«-  jjenrrally  |»rfferred.  That  is  among  the  publicans 
aiMl  -inners  of  tlie  da\  ,  iiltboutfh.  we  iloiibt  not,  but  the  exjuricncr  of  the 
reader  will  iiMluce  hiiu  to  put  in  a  Mixing  clause  for  th«»so,  who.  Iik«'  Iiim- 
Bclf  arc  "  childr*  n  of  the  litflit" 

In  reality.  tlK-  very  prinriplo,  U|»on  wliicli  these  national  Debt;*  arc  usu- 
ally form'  1  I  •'  'utirely  unjust,  that  their  recoj,niilif»n  by  a  nation  has 
in  itsilf  somewhat  of  a  bad  Icnden'-y  upon  the  moral  feelings  of  the  peo- 
phv  They  are  c«uitracteil.  as  we  have  seen,  by  one  frenerati<.n,  ami  in 
jjeneral  lor  its  exclusive  convenience  ami  ease  ;  while  they  are  left  to  be 
dis<har>re<l  by  other?,  who  receive  little  iMUcfit  fnuii  their  existence,  and 
who  had  no  inirtinpuuon  in  the  iifliherutions  -^huh  may  have  ivtroJticed 
them  into  lit':  H.  iniT  thus  e.\po«?ed  to  the  burden  of  Debts,  wbich  v^ere 
eonlraete.1.  in  their  name  imh-<-d,  but  nldoiiHor  their  use.  those  propo- 


•; 


48  Political  and  Moral  Effects. 

set!  payors  of  antiquated  obli{»ations  become  little  scrupulous  respecting 
the  coinnii.s.sion  of  a  robbery  upon  their  posterity,  similar  to  that  which 
\\\ii»  been  committed  upon  themselves.  And,  as  crime  is  not  only  conta- 
gious in  its  irjlhu'nce,  but  also,  like  physical  disease,  progressive  in  its 
course ;  wo  raimot  be  jtistly  surprised,  if  they,  who  have  been  taught  to 
rob  their  childr«'n  without  roinorse,  should  ombrucc  every  convenient  op- 
porttmity  to  plunder  their  neifjlibours  witliout  commiseration  or  regret. 
Nor  is  it  a  doubtfid  fact  that  these  two  species  of  robbery  have  increased 
together ;  for  while  the  records  of  the  criminal  courts  icem  with  proofs 
of  the  augmentation  of  individual  fraud,  we  hesitate  not  to  assert  that  the 
boasted  prosperity  of  the  last  50  years  has  mainly  arisen  from  national 
crime.  Since  maukind  have  been  revelling  in  luxury  upon  the  proceeds  of 
(he  Pitsteritij-rohhing  Dehts,  zchich  the  Paper-money  and  Funding  Systems 
have  e.nahlfd  them  to  contract. 

We  trust  then  that  we  have;  stated  enough,  to  convince  the  reader  of 
tlie  impolicy  and  iunuorality  of  these  baneful  schemes.  Their  ruinous 
consequt'uces,  in  a  pecuniary  light,  have  also  b<>en  displayed ;  and  it  is  a 
stat«'ment  which  the  unpr«'<'edented  cmbarra.ssments  of  the  last  few 
months  abundantly  confirms.  We  shall,  therefore,  conclude  our  remarks 
upon  lli(;se  unwise  as  well  as  unjust  arrangements,  by  an  observation  or 
two  respecting  the  injurious  innuence,  they  are  calculated  to  exercise  on 
the  Warlike  propensities  of  the  human  race. 

Man  has  been  defined,  we  believe,  by  some  one,  a  pugnacious  animal ; 
and  history  goes  far  towards  confirming  the  correctness  of  the  defmition. 
For,  in  rvery  age,  we  fmd  him  inclinable  to  fighting ;  even  when  war  oc- 
casiouj-d  a  general  an<l  in<lividual  pressure,  that  was  hardly  to  be  borne. 
What  then  ought  we  not  to  expect,  beneath  the  sway  of  those  delusive 
Systems  of  Currency  and  rinanc<',  which  render  w.\r  a  period  of  pecu- 
niary eas(\  while  the  association  of  the  mind,  as  connected  with  pkace, 
is  rafiidly  becoming  one  of  privation  and  distress  I 

At  the  present  moment,  infleed,  so  extensive  and  frequent  have  been 
the  applications  of  the  people  to  these  cupping-glasses  for  po.slerity ;  that 
a  fmancial  exhaustion  produces  a  temporary  calm.  It  even  allows  those, 
'iho  rail  tht-mselven  Christians,  to  suflcr  the  Crescent  to  triumph  in  Uie 
M;\SS.\('U|-i  of  the  Greeks.  But  it  is  no  very  consoling  consideration 
to  rellect,  that  all,  which  produces  peace,  is  the  inability  of  the  nations  to 
rai.-jo  the  «;upplirs,  which  are  necessary  to  a  war.  On  the  ground,  there- 
fore, of  tlu'ir  tendency  to  render  war  popular,  we  still  further  denounce 
lhe!s«»  horiible  ^^vstoms,  which  arc  at  once  injurious  and  unjust. 


f 


m 


«A     ,.'  '  •     .  •':       t* 


ft 


"  h  •  »■ 


PART  II 


»■'■ 


iia- 


v'  CHAPTER   I.  ^  *"        ^ 

In  the  former  division  of  our  pamphlet,  we  endeavoured  to  point  out 
the  more  immediate  causes  of  those  remarkable  fluctuations  in  the 
price  of  property,  which,  within  a  few  years  have  so  repeatedly  deranjf- 
ed  the  calculations  of  the  public  at  large.  We  shew,  also,  that  in  these 
perpetual  and  extensive  fluctuations,  we  behold  the  source  whence  SPE- 
CULATION has  arisen  to  so  great  a  height,  and  become,  indeed,  one 
of  the  businesses  of  Life.  We  attempted  to  convince  tlu;  reader,  that 
this  Speculation  has  made  many  occupations,  from  which  honest  men 
^vere  wont  to  derive  a  subsistence,  little  but  a  Lottery,  wlierein  rogues 
adventure  a  trifle,  in  order  to  ascertain,  whether  it  will  most  answer  the 
purpose,  they  have  in  view,  to  maintain  the  appearance  of  sinners  or  of 
saints.  Hence  we  concluded  that  such  a  state  of  things  was  extrtincly 
inimical  to  morality  as  well  as  true  wisdom,  which,  in  fact  must  ever  bo 
<"ompanions  of  each  other.  For  we  still  believe  that,  with  nations  a:3 
with  individuals,  it  will  be  found  *' honesty  is  the  best  policy,"  they  are 
able  to  pursue.  This  we  yet  believe  to  be  true,  in  the  widest  ac(*«'|)ta- 
t ion  of  the  terms;  but  we  have  seen  that,  contrary  thereto,  the  Paper- 
Money  and  Funding  Systems  hove  been  palmed  upon  mankind.  And  that 
we  consequently  find  them  involved  in  almost  perpetual  cnibarnis.snicnt, 
through  the  operation  of  these  abominable  Schemes.  For,  we  trust,  it 
must  now  be  apparent  to  the  reader,  that  it  is  to  these  erroneous  sy.stems 
of  Currency  and  Finance,  we  must  looh  for  the  causes  of-that  pecunia- 
ry distress  and  moral  dl.honour  which  so  extensively  prevail.      -ir 

But  while  wc  attempted  to  prove  this,  in  the  preceding  Number,  wo 
did  not  enter  into  a  consideration  of  the  principle  which  has  led  to  tlio 
establishment  of  siich  unwise,  as  well  as  unjust,  arrangements;  for  wo 
did  not  conceive  that  it  would  be  consistent  with  o\ir  design,  when  try- 
ing to  unveil  the  mode  by  which  certain  effects  have  been  produced,  to 
dwell  upon  the  grounds,  on  which  such  mode  may  rely  for  its  nature  and 
support.  Whdc,  therefore,  we  endeavoured  to  point  out  tiie  modus 
operandi  hv  which  one  portion  of  mankind  plunder  anothr;  •  wf>  :      •  ia- 


4- 


>4 


Owen-s  System. 


.j> 


ed  from  considering  WHY  tliey  thus  attempt  to  prey  upon  their  race. 
We  did  not  pretend  to  account  fur  tln:ir  exhibitinj,',  in  their  Pf.cuniartj 
transactions,  a  spirit,  similar  to  what  tliey  constantly  display  in  their  war 
like  proceedings;  ami  the  principle  ofwiiich  is  so  pointedly  condemned 
in  the  following  quotation  from  the  excellent  Fenolon.  "  Les  homines 
tmt  tons  freres,  et  Us  s'entre-dechirent.  Lrs  betes  farouches  so^it  moins 
cruelles.  I^s  lions  ne  font  i>nint  la  <^uerre  uux  lions,  ni  les  tigrc^ 
aiix  tigres ;  Us  natUtquenl  que  ksanimaux  deespece  differenie.  L'hoinmc. 
ieul,  inalt^re  sa  raison,  fait  ce  que  Ics  aaiinaux,  sans  raison,  nejircnt  ja- 
mais.'' We  made  no  attempt  to  show  the  wherefore  of  this  propensity 
to  irijuru  his  fellow,  which  has  been  evinced  by  man  through  every  age; 
hut  left  the  subject  for  a  brief  consideration,  in  the  present  stage  of  our 
hastily-written  address. 

And  even  now,  we  by  no  means  propose  to  enter  upon  any  thing  like 
a  treati.se,  on  so  important  a  .subject ;  but  shall  merely  glance  at  the 
outlines  of  a  <piestion,  which  has  been  examined  with  so  much  talent  by 
Mr.  Owen,  or  some  of  the  gentlemen,  whose  attention  thereto  has  been 
elicited  by  his  persevering  eiforts  to  benefit  his  race.  Indeed,  our  chief 
object,  at  present,  is  to  recommend  a  careful  study  of  the  writings  of 
others,  rather  than  to  offer  a  satisfactory  and  sutlicient  elucidation  of  the 
subject  in  band.  We  hope,  at  most,  merely  to  excite  an  appetite,  for  the 
gratiliration  of  which,  tlie  reailer  must  peruse  the  writings  of  a  man, 
who  wishes  to  reduce  to  practice  that  theory  of  peace  on  earth,  and 
good  will  among  men,  which  is  said  to  have  introduced  the  Christian 
religion,  but  which  its  followers  have  so  seldom  observed.  We  shall  con- 
seipiently  submit  a  feeble  representation  only  of  a  picture  which  has  been 
already  drawn  at  full,  with  so  masterly  a  jjcncil,  by  others  in  the  field. 

We  expect  therefore,  as  we  have  said,  to  do  little  more  than  excite  a 
desire  for  the  |)erusal  of  writings,  which  we  sincerely  believe  to  be  bet- 
ter calculated  for  the  promotion  of  genuine  piety,  than  all  the  Sermons, 
Tracts,  or  other  theological  animalcule,  which  have  ever  swarmed  upon 
the  earth.  For,  while  these  have  filled  the  world  with  hypocrisy  or  con- 
tention, and  indeed  with  both  :  we  firmly  believe  that  Mr.  Owen's  System 
wdl  lead  men  to  perceive,  and  to  feel,  and  to  act  as  rational  beings,  who 
know  that  it  is  for  their  INTEREST  to  be  honest,  liberal,  peaceable, 
iind  JMst.  Bt?ings,  who  feel  that  ha])piness  is  immeasurably  augmented  by 
a  social  participation  of  it ;  and  who  consider  it  much  better  to  perform 

dispute  about  points 
fvcr  essential,  mankind 


1    tiie  duties,  which  they  owe  to  each  other,  than  to 
\  of  ^jMclitivc  b<  licf,  o:»  the  whole  of  whuli,  ]jo\vrv< 


Owen's  System.^       ■     *  51 

« 

HAS  NEVER  AGREED.  In  fine  we  wish,  and  almost  hope,  that  it 
may  induce  mankind  to  cast  ofl*  the  absurd  practices  and  unintelligible, 
irreconcileable,  and  preposterous  doctrines  tliat  priestcraft,  and  priest- 
craft only,  has  nurtured  among  mankind.  So  that,  acting  like  reasona.  , 
ble  being?,  they  may  learn  to  estimate  each  other,  according  to  the  con- 
duct, and  not  in  proportion  to  the  profession,  which  cither  shall  offer  to 
the  world.  ^ 

And,  should  we  succeed  in  ^ucing  the  reader  to  examine  the  writ-      • 
ings  of  those,  who  have  attempted  to  illustrate  the  principles  upon  which 
the  "New  System  of  Society"  professes  to  rest,  we  shall  have  placed 
before  him  a  true  exposition  of  the  causes,  whence  most  of  the  misery,       * 
immorality,  and  distress  of  mankind  have  received  their  existence  and 
their  extent.     Whether  or  not  he  will  discover  therein  an  adequate  re-        \ 
raedy  for  the  disorders,  that  have  been  so  unfortunately  introduced,  wo       ♦ 
will  not,  in  the  absence  of  sufficient  experience,  be  foolish  enough  to       >. 
declare.    We  sincerely  and  confidently  believe  tlic  principles,  winch  Mr. 
Owen  is  attempting  to  introduce  into  practice,  to  be  theoretically  cor- 
rect ;  but  whctlier  they  will  be  able  to  stem  the  corruption,  the  preju- 
dice, and  misconception,  they  will  have  to  oppose,  it  is  impossible  to  fore-     . 
see.     But,  be  this  as  it  may,  the  attentive  reader  of  the  productions,  re- 
ferred to,  will  be  at  no  loss  to  account  for  that  singular  but  constant  in- 
ternecine hostility,  which,  as  it  respects  pecuniary  and  individual  affairs 
as  well  as  national  and  territorial  concerns,  has  generally  been  a  charac- 
teristic of  the  human  race. 

This,  we  conceive,  he  will  very  rca«lily  find  out ;  for  there  he  will  see 
the  nature,  operation,  and  results,  ofthat  INDIVIDUAL  SYSTEM,  in 
which  MANKIND  continually  proceed.  Unlike  some  other  animals,  over 
which  he  boasts  indeed  a  vast  superiority  of  reason  and  information, 
man  acts  like  an  isolated  being,  even  in  the  midst  of  Society  itself  Ho 
labours  not,  Hke  the  beaver,  in  unison  with  his  companions  ;  but  nio.st 
commonly  the  race  is  found  in  perfect  discord  with  others  znAthcmtelve^. 
So  that,  though  he  lives  xaith  his  fellows,  man  constantly /««»/«  antl  nets  as 
if  virtually  alone.     SELF  is  the  great  object  of  liis  consideration  ;  until  ^ 

this,  which  is  the  ea'utary  moving-spring  of  hiiinun  exertions,  becomes  a  ^ 
curse,  by  not  rcstijig  on  the  only  Icijitiinate  foundation,  a  coMinunity  of 
interest  and  design.  For  it  is  a  mo.st  egregious  mistake  to  su])pose  that 
the  co-operative  system  profes:*cs  to  do  away  with  liic  individuality  df 
object,  which  is  at  present  pursued ;  since  it  aims  merely  at  the  eradica- 
tion of  the  separate,  and  therefore  conflicting,  means  by  wbi'vli  th;it  <»l). 


«■ 


.» 


••    % 


# 


^^ 


Owen^s  System. 


<K 


V 


jcct  is  too  penorally  sought.  That  system,  hke  the  one  which  is  con>' 
monly  in  vogue,  professes  to  seek  after  rational  enjoyment ;  they  differ 
not  therefore  about  the  Inn  or  the  Entertaininent,  of  which  they  are  mu- 
tually in  pursuit,  though  they  disagree  most  essentially  as  to  the  Road, 
which  will  bring  them  thereto.  Man,  by  his  present  course,  declares 
his  belief,  that  his  interest  can  be  promoted,  but  by  a  perpetual  view  to 
his  individual  pecuniary  gain ;  and  his  pleasure,  but  through  tlie  gratiii- 

"P  cation  of  his  personal  inclinations.  F^gctful  that  the  greatest  of  all 
gain,  and  the  purest  of  all  delight,  is  that;  the  possession  of  which  is  ac- 
companied by  the  assurance  of  its  ministering  at  the  same  time  to  the 

f  ha{>piness  of  others.  Here,  then,  we  discover  the  true  "  Origin  of  Evil," 
as  far  as  it  regards  the  situation  of  man  in  a  social  state ;  for  here  we  see 
the  principle  that  teaches  him  to  look  for  benefit  and  enjoyment,  by  an 
abstraction  from  tlie  means,  or  an  inroad  upon  the  comfort,  of  others,  in- 
stead of  seeking  them  both  in  a  participation  of  the  good  belonging  to 
them  all.  lie  expects  at  present  to  succeed,  by  opposing  and  circum- 
venting his  companions ;  instead  of  obtaining  his  ends  by  mutual  assist" 
anre  and  advice.  For,  though  the  weakness  of  individuahty  has  been 
so  fretpieiitly  pointed  out — though  this  has  been  so  finely  illustrated  by 
the  Bundle  of  Sticks,  which,  bound  together,  is  never  to  be  broken, 
but,  separated  into  it:^  parts,  is  incfhcient  as  a  twig — he  yet  continues  to 
roptl  ail  approaches  to  an  amalgamation  of  interest  and  design.  Yea^ 
though  experience,  as  well  as  reason,  demonstrates  that  his  present  race 
can  be  productive  of  little  but  care,  disappointment,  and  distress,  he  still 
pluiigeH  along  without  any  community  of  feeling  or  mutuality  of  attempt 
We  ought  not,  therefore,  to  wonder  that  we  find  him,  as.  in  general,  he 
is  linow  n  to  e.xist.  .  For,  notwithstanding  the  tinsel  and  false  grandeur, 
with  which  :i  portion  of  them  manage  to  surround  themselves,  while  a 
yet  larger,  and  daily  increasing,  number  are  involved  in  penury  and  diS' 
tress,  v^  e  consider  the  mass  to  form  a  care-worn,  and  of  course  therefore 
u  iniserahle  race. 

It  night  not  be  an  uninteresting  inquiry  to  seek  after  the  causes  that 
^nve  riVe  to  a  principle,  or  course,  of  action,  which  has  produced  so  sad 
and  lamentable  a  result  But  this,  although  it  might  be  even  a  useful 
resourrh,  would  be  too  abstruse  for  our  present  design  ;  while  it  would 
stretch  our  PampIUet  beyond  the  limits,  we  are  desirous  to  observe. 
And,  after  all,  it  is  much  more  important  to  inquire  after  a  Remedy  tot 
an  evil,  than  to  waste  our  time  upon  somewhat  dubious  specidptions  re- 
f>pertmg  its  rise.    But,  yet,  if  we  desire  Co  obtain  a  knowledge.v^  wbick 


< 


i    \. 


4kt 


Owen's  System,  53 

to  eradicate  a  disease,  vre  must  examine  into  its  nature,  however  in- 
expedient or  unnecessary  we  may  consider  it,  to  make  inquiries  con- 
cerning its  duration  or  it!)  birth. 

It  may  be  said,  indeed,  that  ere  we  trouble  ourselves  about  even  the 
nature  of  a  complaint,  it  would  be  well  if  we  first  demonstrated  that  it 
actually  exists.  And  that,  therefore,  it  were  neither  superfluous  or  ini- 
mical to  our  present  design,  if  we  adduced  some  proofs  of  tliat,  which 
we  have  stated  to  prevail.  We  allow  that  this  is  in  general  a  very  fair 
requisition ;  but  as  we  do  not  so  far  flatter  ourseWcs  as  to  suppose  that 
we  can  convince  any  c>ne,  of  the  immoral  and  distressed  situation  of  man« 
kind,  as  it  respects  pecuniary  affairs,  who  yet  remains  ignorant  of  the 
ikct,  we  shall  refrain  at  this  time  from  making  the  attempt.  Indeed,  wc 
are  inclined  to  believe  there  are  few,  who  will  deny  the  existence  of  a 
complaint,  the  remedy  for  which  there  will  be  thousands  to  oppose. 
For,  we  believe,  that  m  exact  proportion  to  the  success  of  the  cure,  will 
be  the  opposition  to  its  spread.  Now  its  opponents  believe  that  the  re- 
medy, which  the  Welsh  philanthropist  has  offered  to  the  world,  will  die 
OF  iTSEL/  ;  but,  let  it  maintain  itself  for  a  few  years — let  it  prove  to  the 
comparatively  poor  that  they  can  live,  and  live  the  better  too,  without 
the  idle  and  the  rich — let  this  new  System  but  prove  this,  and  be  assured 
it  will  want  neither  enemies  nor  friends.  For,  though  tlic  latter  will 
press  from  the  East  and  from  the  West,  from  the  North  and  from  the 
South,  anxious  to  escape  the  pecuniary  horrors  that  the  breaking  up  of 
the  Funding  System  will  be  certain  to  produce ;  its  foes  also  will  cover 
the  land  in  number  and  occupation,  somewhat  similar  to  the  lice,  which 
formerly  tormented  the  Egyptian  people. 

While,  however,  we  refrain  from  entering  into  a  consideration  of  any 
thing,  that  might  be  deemed  an  attempt  to  prove  an  evil,  tlie  existence 
of  which  is  so  palpable  that  he  who  rims  may  read  without  any  danger 
of  mistake ;  we  shall  endeavour  to  place  before  the  reader  a  brief  cluci« 
dation  of  the  manner,  by  which  the  present,  or  individual.  System  ope- 
rates in  contracting  the  comforts  of  the  human  race.  We  behove,  then, 
that  COMPETITION,  in  its  innumerable  consequences  and  ramifica- 
tions, may  be  justly  considered  as  the  principal  means,  whereby  Indivi- 
duality (if  we  may  so  express  ourselves)  curses  mankind.  This  is  the 
legitimate  of&pring,  and  must  henceforth  be  the  perpetual  companion,  of 
the  present  arrangements.  For  not  more  closely  or  continually  did  the 
old  mam  fliick  to  the  back  of"  Sinbad,  the  sailor,"  than  Competition  ad- 
heres ana  will  continue  to  adhere  to  the  Individual  Scheme.     This  un- 


i 


»  '     -  *  "•» 


54  *  Owen's  St/stem. 

wholesome  cflcict  has  been  nuruirctl  by  the  System,  it  now  threatens  to 
<Iestroy.  As  wc  soiiit'times  bcliold  a  once  vigorous  tree  overpowered 
by  the  matured  hran<hcs  of  a  vine,  the  tendrils  of  which  had  at  one 
time  afforded  it  beauty,  in  "-cturn  for  its  support.  But  as  the  effects  of 
tliis  perpetual  atieiMlaiit  of  the  pre«eiit  mode  arc  admirably  portrayed  by 
Mr.  Gray,  in  the  fir?t  number  of  his  "  Essay  on  Human  Happiness,"  late- 
ly re-pul)lisiiud  in  this  city,  we  shall  bog  to  extract  a  few  pages  from  hia 
masterly  work;  and  which  we  stronjjiy  recommend  to  the  notice  of  the 

reader.  ' 

COMPKTITION  A  LIMIT  TO  PRODUCTION.    .   • 


K^   » 


After  what  wn  have  stated,  it  may  perliaps  be  .supposed,  that  we  have  now  made 
the  most  of  our  subject;  that  wc  have  given  the  most  favourable  representation  of 
the  new  views,  whicli  can,  con»u>tentIy  with  truth,  be  given  of  tliem.  Far  indeed, 
huwevor,  from  tho  trutli  is»  such  a  nupposition.  So  far  from  having  painted  the  ad- 
vantages of  co-operation  in  the  liighest  colours,  wo  have  as  yot  conveyed  no  just 
idea  of  them  !  It  iH  certainly  an  important  truth,  that  the  principles  we  are  advo- 
'  iiliiijr  would  have  the  effect  of  multiplying  the  incomes  of  the  productive  classes, 
by  at  least  four;  bui  important  as  this  truth  is,  and  great  as  the  advantages  are 
which  would  result  from  it,  it  is  nothing  to  the  truth  which  is  yet  to£onie ;  the  ad* 
vantages  of  which  cannot  be  doscribod. 

Wo  have  hitherto  iriveii  but  a  faint  idea  of  the  advantages  v/lii-jh  are  within  our 
reach.  We  now  solicit  attention  to  the  most  important  truth  that  was  ever  sub* 
nutted  to  the  mind  of  man,  as  regards  the  aOairs  of  this  life :  the  truth  which  forms 
the  basis  of  the  prodigious  and  undescribablo  diflcrcnce  between  the  old  and  new 
system :  a  truth  which  cannot  fail  to  open  the  eyes  of  all  who  understand  it,  to  an 
entirely  new  view  of  almost  every  circumstance  by  which  we  are  surrounded. 

If  ever  there?  was  a  cir*Mi  instance  calculated  to  produce  universal  astcgiishment ; 
if  flr«*r  there  was  a  circumstance  calculated  to  awaken  a  spirit  of  universal  inquiry 
and  investigation  ;  if  ever  there  was  a  circumstance  calculated  to  arouse  the  cner- 
{^ins  of  tli«^  whole  human  race,  and  to  unite  them  in  one  common  effort  to  free  thein- 
Holvus  from  the  mis.  rios  Uy  which  they  arc  surrounded,  it  is  this :  "'That  whilst  tlie 
i.iliabilAiits  ot'tl.is  and  other  countries  are  wanting  tliose  necessaries  and  comforts  of 
life,  the  liberal  poi-Mrssson  of  which  constitutes  what  we  call  wealth ;  whilst  many 
obtain  Miem  vrry  rtaiitily,  and  with  great  difficulty,  toil  and  anxiety:  and  wliilst 
•  ■tfmrs  arc  in  the  constant  fear  of  having  tliem  wrested  from  them  by  circumstances 
beyond  their  control;  still  it  is  undeniable,  that  those  very  inhabitants,  aided  by  Uio 
:rrcat  Merhunic  power  of  which  they  are  pos.scsscd,  arc  capable  of  creating,  by  tlieit 
"\vn  labour,  al'  those  necessaries  and  co;nforts  of  life  loan  almost  unlimited  extent; 
rt;rtainly  t()  nn  extent  ampl)  suflicicnt  to  supply  tlic  wants  of  every  member  of  their 
respective*  communities  ! 

ll'lhis  be  true,  and  who  can  doubt  it?  it  is  certain  that  there  is  no  reason  in  w«- 
fire,  why  any  n»an  shoulil  be  exposed  to  poverty  and  want.  Tiie  reason  why  so 
many  aro  poor,  mii>l  llicrcforc  Iw  soui^ht  for  in  the  institutions  qf'  socieljf^  and  this 
leads  us  to  tlin  important  truth  of  which  wo  li;ivc  spoken^  which  is,  that  there  now 
cxl-vtsAN  L'NXATlJHMi  LIMIT  TO  rUODUCTION. 

Tiie  ostensible  •-aitse  of  poverty,  amoiiiTHt  the  able  and  industrious  part  of  the 
cuiiiinuiiity,  is,  thn*  men  are  cither  unable  to  obtain  employment,  or  the  wages 
whieli  their  labour  wilhuablo  tiiem  to  command,  if  they  do*  obtain  permission  to 
v>il,  nro  insufficient  to  raise  tliem  a:)ovu  it.  Now  these  apparent  causes  aro  cfTects; 
till'  former  of  this  circumstance,  t)-at  capital  is  now  brought  into  comneliium  with 
cnpiial,  instead  of  being  brought  to  act  m  eonjunrtion  with  it;  by  which,  instead 
»>f  iL^  ntfordme  the  nrrolest  bentf  ts  to  society,  virhich  it  is  capable  of  affording,  it  af- 
fords tlie  /^liiMbat  it  i*  possible  for  it  to  afford,  if  it  be  employed  at  all.  And  the  lat- 
ter ex  il  arises  from  this  circumstance,  that  tlin  institutions  of  society  are  so  constitu- 
ted, that  tliey  deprive  tlie  produruve  i;la.sses  of  the  greatest  possible  proportion  of  the 
protlnce  of  tiieir  biiMnir.  instead  of  depriving  them  only  of  that  tfkaU  proportion  of 
it,  win-  h  in  every  st.'.tr  of  society  will  bo  refpiired  to  support  the  expenses  of  the 
H  T»-  tion  and  su)mrintf>B<l«itr«-  nf  business;  the  distribution  of  the  produce  Of  tlie  I«- 

•^•;    '**.--■  .  .  *   , 


^^4% 


n 
» 


Owen's  System.       «-  ^  .. ,   55 


bour  of  the  country,  and  the  expenses  of  government,  it  being  evident  that  all  per- 
sons thus  employed,  are  unproductive  labourers;  or,  iu  other  words,  although  a  oro- 
uer  nwrnbtr  tf  them  aro  useful  and  necessary  ineniberK  of  society,  BtiH  tiicy  <to  not, 
by  their  own  labour,  create  any  part  of  that  which  they  consume:  and  must  in  con- 
sequence, be  supported  by  tlic  industry  of  those  who  do,  by  their  own  labour,  cre- 
ate wealth. 

The  former  of  these  circumstanccR  produces  the  ne  phu  ultra  of  wretchedness. 
The  latter  has  only  tlie  more  moderate  tendency  of  consigning  the  most  useful  of 
our  species  to  never  eiding  toil  and  miserable  anxiety.  This  we  have  already  ex- 
plained. We  have  shown  that  the  institutions  of  society  dcjirive  the  ]iroductive 
classes  of  four-fifUis  of  the  produce  of  their  labour,  and  also  how  that  pcrtion  is  ta- 
ken from  them. 

We  now  proceed  with  Uiat  of  capital  being  brought  hito  competition  with  capitnl, 
instead  of  being  brought  to  act  in  conjunction  with  it;  the  reason  of  which  is,  that 
in  the  present  state  of  society  the  intertills  nj'men,  m  thetr  mode  of  employing  capital^ 
and  in  the  distribution  of  the  produce  of  thar  labaur^  are  at  variance  with  eaih  other, 
and  here  wj-  arrive  at  the  fountAin  head  of  evil.  It  is  this  circumstance  vrliirh  hi* 
blmded  the  understanding  of  every  ago  and  of  every  nation.  It  is  this  circumstance, 
which  has  filled  tlie  earO^ith  wretchedness,  an»l  bafRed  every  attempt  to  render 
mankind  virtuous  and  faVy,  and  it  is  only  by  tiie  abolition  of  (his  circumstanrc, 
that  poverty  with  all  its  destructive  consequences,  c  an  be  balli^hL'd  from  the  v/orld. 

We  will  now  endeavour  to  explain  this  unnatural  iimitto  production: — 
•  There  must  ever  bo  two  natural  limits  to  the  annual  income  of  the  country,  or,  in 
other  words,  to  the  qiiantit^  of  wealtli  annually  crf^aled  by  the  labour  of  the  people, 
viz.  the  exhaiution  of  our  productive  powers,  and  the  satisfaction  of  our  irants. 

The  truth  of  tliis  must  be  evident.  Jn  tlie  former  instamw  it  is  certain  tliat  if  t'lo 
tehoU  industry  of  the  country  were  called  into  actjoii,  and  that  Industry  aided  by 
the  greatest  mechanic  po\ycr  of  which  we  luive  any  knowledge,  the  wealth  of  tlin 
country  would  have  reached  the  f^reattst  extent  that  it  could  ri>ach  at  any  given  jie- 
riod.  And  it  is  also  certain  that  if  we  were  in  poHsessioii  of  as  much  wealth  as  we 
desired,  we  should  not  trouble  ourselves  to  create  more. 

And  it  would  bs  well  for  us  if  tliero  existed  no  other  ])mit  oi'  production,  than 
those  two  natural  ones;  but  unfortunately  wc  have  cstabliKhed  a  TI11H.D,  and  this 
third  limit  is  COMPETITION.  We  will  now  endeavour  to  show  that  coniprtilioii 
is  the  limit  to  production. 

Ist.    In  the  present  state  of  society  production  is  limited  by  demand. 

The  consumers  of  goods  usually  apply  for  Uieui  lo  the  rutail  venders  of  ihcm.  and 
the  quantity  of  goods  whicl^a  retail  tradesman  buys,  is  invariably  regulated  by  tin' 
quantity  he  expects  to  sell,  in  other  words,  by  a  quantity  he  expects  a  dnnaildfnr 
in  his  shop.  In  the  manufacturmg  of  goods,  men  are  invariably  regulated  by  the 
same  principle.  It  nevfjr  enters  into  the  calculafionH  of  manufacturers  how  much 
cloth  would  be  required  to  supply  Iha  wants  of  nianknid.  It  never  I'orias  any  part 
ef  their  business  to  ascertain  how  many  coats  the  whole  populatio:i  nugiit  to  be  dup- 
pUed  with,  in  the  course  of  a  year,  and  how  much  cloth  would  be  required  to  niako 
them :  neither  do  thev  ask  themselves  how  much  cloth  tlipy  have  the  power  of  mak- 
ing. All  they  ask,  all  they  require  to  know,  is,  how  murh  cloth  thei/  can  dispose  ef 
at  a  prq/U;  how  much  will  stock  the  shops  and  warehouses  of  their  ciistomers ;  in 
otlier  words,  how  much  it  is  probuble  there  will  be  a  demand  for.  It  is  tliis,  and  this 
alone,  whicli  regulates  production.  When  more  i.s  producedtliaii  there  is  a  (iitnand 
for,  the  market  is  said  to  be  overstocked ;  and  when  tlu'ie  is  less  prf*duicd  than 
there  is  a  demand  for,  the  market  is  said  to  be  understocked  ,•  without  llie  least  re- 
gard to  the  satisfaction  of  our  wants,  or  to  the  extent  of  our  powers  of  production. 

i2nd.  If  then  production  is  limited  by  demand,  the  next  inquiry  tliat  arises  is,  '^  by 
what  is  demand  regulated?" 

We  reply  that  demand  is  compo.sed  of  the  nggrc'iate  fjiiantitt/  of  ntaUh,  which  tho 
labour,  the  services,  and  the  property  of  the  whole  coinniunity  will  comniand  ;  which 
aggregate  is  composed  of  tho  quantities,  which  the  labour,  the  services  or  the,  pro- 
perty of  indit'idxuils  enable  them  to  command. 

Tnis  is  almost  self-evident,  for  it  must  be  plain  to  a\\,  that  no  person,  dependent 
aolely  on  his  labour  for  suiisistence,  can  obtain  more  wealth  than  his  labour  will  pur- 
chase :  that  no  tradesman,  nor  other  unproductive  member  of  society,  who  depends 
solely  on  his  personal  or  mental  exertions  for  support,  can  obtain  more  wealth  than 
his  servicef  will  enable  him  to  purchase ;  and  that  no  independent  member  of  soci- 
ety can  obtain  more  wealth  than  his  property  will  command. 

Demand,  therefore,  it  is  obvious,  is  a  compound  of  the  collective  quantity  of 
wealth,  which  the  labour  of  the  productive  classes,  the  rervicc  of  tti«  dependent' uu- 


♦ , 


56 


Owen's  System. 


productive  classes,  and  the  property  of  the  independent  daises  will  command.  The 
only  question  tliat  romaina  tlien,  is,  what  is  it  that  limits  the  quantity,  obtained  by 
each  uidividual  ?     Wc  reply, 

3rd.  Thai  Uie  quantity  of  wealth,  which  the  labour,  the  services,  or  the  property, 
ofindividualsenables  them  to  command,  is  limited  by  COMPETITION  between 
man  and  man. 

It  is  competilion  which  fixes  the  quantity  of  wealth,  tlmt  is  obtained  by  tha 
productive  classes.  Such  m(  them  as  are  unable  to  obtain  employment,  being  still 
candidates  for  ninpluymcnt,  will  ever,  under  a  system  of  individual  competition, 
have  tiio  otlbct  of  keeping  down  the  (quantity  obtained  by  the  mass,  to  that  portion 
which  is  just  sufficient  to  support  bodily  strength  and  to  continue  their  race :  and  if 
they  hope  to  rise  above  this  standard,  under  the.  present  system^  they  hope  for  that, 
u  lucli  tuey  never  can  obtain  for  ojiy  considerable  length  of  time  together. 

It  is  competition  which  fixos  the  quantity  of  woaltJi,  obtained  by  the  trading  clas- 
hes. Every  tradesman  is  rich  or  poor,  in  proportion  as  his  exertions  in  business  en- 
able him  to  command  a  liberal  or  scanty  supply  of  the  comforts  andl  enjoyments  of 
life,  and  this  is  invariably  regulated  by  the  largeness  or  smallncss  of  the  profits  that 
ho  is  enabled  to  obtain  by  the  sale  of  goods.  To  prove  tliat  profits  arc  limited  by 
competition,  scarcely  requires  any  argument ;  a  conclusi^^ono  however  will  be  that 
if  tradesmen  uniformly  sold  gof»ds  at  ro5/ ;;rif(?,  they  woulV  obtain  no  income  at  all, 
und  the  more  thoy  compete  with  each  other,  the  nearer  to  cost  price  each  is  compel- 
led to  accept  for  them. 

And  if  we  pass  on  to  those  persons  whose  incomes  are  derived  from  the  Rent  of 
houses,  and  from  the  Interest  of  money  ;  in  the  letting  of  their  houses  and  money, 
they  become  men  of  business,  and  the  quantity  of  wealth  which  they  are  enabled  to 
obtain  for  thoir  use,  is  also  limited  by  competition. 

Thus — COMPETITION  limits  th«  quantity  of  wealth,  obtained  by  individuals — the 
quantities,  ubtamed  by  individuals  collectively,  composes  the  aggregate  ouan/i/v,  ob- 
tained by  the  whelo  comnmnity — this  aggregate  quantity  forms  the  DEMAl^D — 
and  demand  limtttproduetion. 

When  this  subject  is  clearly  understood,  it  will  be  seen  by  all,  that  tlie  exhaustion 
of  our  productive  powers,  and  the  satisfaction  of  our  wants,  are  the  only  natural 
limits  to  production — that,  so  long  a."*  capital  shall  continue  to  be  employed  in  com- 
j>(!titioii  with  capital,  instead  of  in  ronjurwtion  wifh  it,  wc  shall  never  be  enabled  ei- 
ther tooxlauiit  our  productive  powers,  or  to  satisfy  our  wonts;  because  production 
must  ever  bo  limited  to  the  quantity,  which  the  labour,  the  services,  and  the  property 
ofthe  comnmnity  v.'ill  mniinand. 

That  the  quantity  of  wealth,  which  the  labouring  classes  receive,  is  the  least  that 
tlitiir  labour  can  be  purchased  for.  That  the  reason  why  a  working  man  docs  not 
obtain  twiic  the  ouanlity  he  obtains  at  present  is,  because  if  he,  an  individual,  were 
t'>  domaiul  it,  and  tn  refuse  to  work  for  a  l«;ss  quantity,  he  would  bo  thrown  out  of 
rrnploynipnt  altogetlier,  by  another  individual  oHering  to  do  the  same  woik  for  the 
qu;Mitity  now  given — in  other  words,  by  another  individual  competing  with  him. 

'i'hat  the  quantity  of  wealth,  which  tlie  Trading  clas.«r's  receive,  is  tho  least  that 
their  services  can  lie  purchusod  for.  That  tiie  reason  why  a  tradesmnn  does  not  ob- 
tain twne  tho  quantity  ho  ohtains  at  present,  is,  bpcnnse  if  ho,  an  individual,  were  to 
tlcniand  it,  that  is,  dctnand  double  the  profit  on  the  goods  he  sells,  and  refuse  to  sell 
them  for  a  less  profit,  he  would  lose  his  trade  altogetlier,  by  another  individual  offer- 
ing to  the  public-  the  same  kind  of  goods  at  the  profit  now  obtained — in  other  words 
)>y  anolIxT  individual  competing  v;\ih  him. 

That  tho  quantity  of  wcaith,  which  tho  proprietors  of  money  and  of  houses  ro- 
<"  "Ive,  is  the  i.kast  that  the  use  of  their  houses  and  money  can-bo  purf-hased  for. 
That  the  reason  why  a  capitalist  of  this  kind  does  not  obtain  twice  the  quantity,  he 
u'tttiiii-i  at  present,  is.  beraiise  if  he,  an  individual,  wore  to  demand  it.  that  is,  de- 
mand doiii'le  the  rent  for  his  houses,  or  double  the  interest  for  his  money,  and  re- 
fuse to  lend  thtMii  for  a  less  remuneration,  he  would  l^e  prevented  from  lending  them 
at  all,  by  another  individual  offV*riii<;  to  lend  houses  and  inuncy  for  the  reniuncra* 
ti'iii  now  ol)taincd — in  other  words,  hy  another  individual  competing  with  him. 

That,  tUerefore^  the  income  of  KVERY  Individual — except  such  persons  as  have 
Jlr.j  inim.v  incoiiie-j — and  consequently  of  NEARLY  ALL  tho  Community,  i> 
M.MHT.D"  by  ("OMPETITION.    And' that  each  obtains  the  LEAST  that  his  la- 
tiiur.  his  scrvicfs.  or  the  use  of  his  property,  can  potsibhf  be  (Stained  for. 

Tiiat,  in  cons.-quince  of  all  beinjr  thus  compelled,  hi)  competition,  to  put  up  with 
a  very  li.\iiti:d  sipclv  of  tho  conveniencs  and  enjoyments  of  life,  (limited  indeed 
v.lieii  rniiipared  w.th  our  ability  of  producing  more)  a  demakd  for  LUXUKIEM  can- 
,50 r  ress'iHLY  incrtase  in  rR««ronTtoN  as  we  fo5pe8»  an  increased  rowB»  ot 


'vjiWBFr'»«-iWP^»5 


Owen^a  St/aiefii.  ST 

rRODVCiNO  NBCKusAKiEs:  but,  Oil  the  Contrary,  tkat,  in  exact  proportion  aa  our  pow* 
er  of  creating  wealth  increases,  it  will  be  obtained  witli  increa*!cd  difficulty ;  because 
in  consequence  of  tlie  ability  of  the  FEW  to  produce  all  the  competition  will  allow 
the  MANY  to  consume,  competition  will  be  still  further  increased  by  the  increased 
struggle  to  obtain  oniplo^inent. 

That  the  collective  quantity  of  food,  cloUiing,  habitation,  furniture,  and  othor  ar* 
tides  of  convenience  and  luxury,  which  all  classes  of  society  are  thus  pomiittcd  by 
competition  to  obtain,  forms  the  prutent  unnatural  demand  for  produce ;  bacause, 
whenever  a  capitalist,  overlooking  or  miscalculating  tlie  extent  of  this  doinund, 
brings  a  supply  of  any  article  into  the  market  exceeding  it — that  is,  exceeding  th« 
quantity  wiiicn  cou  petition  has  compelled  the  sevoral  moabera  of  society  to  ae^ 
cent  as  a  remuneration  for  their  labour,  their  services,  or  their  property — he  is  com» 
pelled  to  reduce  the  money  price  of  such  article,  and  thereby  hn  by  a  speculati«», 
which  was  entered  upon  K>r  purposes  of  gain. 

COMPETITIOJ>r,  therefore,  in  the  pretent  stale  of  Socielif,  "  '^  LIMIT  OT 
PRODUCTIiXy^  beeaute  CapiitUislt  never  did  a$td  nrver  ir^  habitvally  pr»' 
dtue  goods  to  sell  at  a  loss;  which  would  inevitabljf  be  the  case,  were  they  to  pro* 
duet  sttgScieHt,  either  t9  supply  9ur  wants,  or  to  extuntst  wwt  prodwtive  potctrs. 

We  hope  the  reader  has  perused  this  extract  with  the  attention  it  de- 
serves.  For,  if  he  has  done  so,  he  cannot  fail  to  arrive  at  two  conclu* 
sions,  which  are  of  the  most  vital  consequence  to  tlie  happiness  ( >f  tho 
whole  human  race.  As  he  must  see,  in  the  first  place,  that  Competi' 
/ton  necessarily  limits  the  remuneration  of  men,  and  therefore  their  enjoy- 
ments, to  the  LOWEST  STANDARD,  at  which  business  can  be  carried  on ; 
\vhile  it  rendew  altogether  nugatory — as  far  as  the  increase  of  the  comfort 
of  mankind  is  concerned — all  the  astonishing  improvements  for  the  les- 
sening of  labour,  which,  during  the  last  century,  have  been  so  abundant- 
ly introduced.  Indeed,  by  throwing  individuals  out  of  their  accustomed 
occupations,  these  very  improvements  become  AN  INJURY;  inasmuch 
as  they  augment  the  competition,  and  thereby  lessen  tlic  rcmunerationi 
which  labour  was  wont  to  receive.  But  not  only  must  this  be  apparent 
to  every  attentive  reader  of  the  extract,  we  have  thought  proper  to  intro- 
duce ;  but  such  a  reader  will  also  perceive,  in  the  second  |>lace,  that  a 
result,  so  withering  to  the  happiness  of  man,  MUST  be  the  companion 
of  the  Individual  Scheme.  Nothing,  therefore  but  a  "  New  System  of 
Society"  of  some  sort  or  other,  can  relieve  us  from  a  situation,  in  which 
tire  mass  of  the  people  MUST  BE  GENERALLY  IN  DISTRESS^ 
We  say  tis,  because  the  writer  feels  tliat  he  can  justly  adopt  the  language 
of  the  Roman  author,  and  say, 

''Homo  sum,  et  humani  a  mo  alienum  puto.*' 

As,  then,  no  rational  expectation  of  more  advantageous,  or  ratlier  of 
less  disastrous,  results  can  be  anticipated  from  the  present  Individual 
System — as,  on  the  contrary,  we  ought  to  look  for  much  more  ui  plea- 
sant effects  therefrom,  than  what  have  hitherto  been  experienced — as 
indeed  it  has  annihilated  almost  all  sense  of  equity,  in  pecuniary  trans- 
actions, between  man  and  man — as  it  renders  fraud  a  feat,  that  it  con- 


58  Owen^s  System. 

si(lcrc<l  wrongf  rtuhj  when  nnsuccessful ;  and  perjury  an  cvery-day  shield 
for  robbery  un<i  deceit — as  Uiese,  wc  say,  arc  undeniable  companions,  if 
not  conse<ju«nces,  of  the  present  arrangements,  surely  we  shall  obtain 
fjoncral  credit,  when  wc  assert  that  it  is  high  time  for  us  to  attempt  a 
('IIANGK.  And  as  the  System,  now  in  operation,  has  been  weighed  in 
the  balance  of  long-continued  experience,  and  has  been  found  deficient; 
wo  shall  certainly  be  acting  a  wise  part  to  look  ailer  one,  which,  if  it 
have  no  other  recommendation,  has  that  at  least  of  being  NEW.  As  this 
property  will  allow  us  to  hope  that  our  alteration  7iMy  be  an  improve- 
ment; an  expectation,  that,  from  any  patching  of  the  old  thing,  it  would 
be  extremely  irrational  to  entertain.  For  though  any  new  principle  will 
find  that  itH  newness  is  ot}crcd,  as  an  objection  to  its  use ;  the  wise  man 
will  rather  embark  his  tbrtunes  in  a  scheme,  that  has  the  inexperience  of 
youtli,  than  venture  upon  one,  which  is  evidently  borne  down  with  the 
corruption  and  decrepitude  of  age.  Not  that  wc  are  ignorant  of,  or  dis- 
regard, the  veneration  which  is  sometimes  the  accompaniment  of  length 
of  years.  IJut  wo  know  also,  that,  to  deserve,  and  indeed  inspire,  such  a 
feeling,  iIm-  jMrson  or  the  object  must  command  our  respect;  and  who 
can  respect  institution.'*  and  practices,  which  have  mvolved  mankind  in 
immorality  and  distress  1  VVe,  therefore,  conclude  that,  as  the  SELF- 
ISH, or  Individual,  Scheme  has  clearly  produced  such  a  result;  neither 
our  wisdom  nor  our  intentions  can  be  justly  impeached,  because  wc  are 
desiroiis  to  see  it  at  an  end.  ' 

If  then  we  are  justified  in  seeking  a  new  plan,  by  which  to  arrange 
the  social  intercourse  of  man;  it  can  scarcely  reciuire  an  argument  to 
(trove  that  we  are  justified  in  adopting  the  best,  which  our  own  experi' 
»ncc  and  reason,  or  the  experience  and  reason  of  others,  may  happen  to 
i!uj?jjcst.  And  as  our  object,  m  such  a  search,  must  be  to  find  some  sys- 
tem, the  estahhshnuMit  and  observance  of  which  shall  guard  us  against 
(ho  evils,  that  the  present  system  has  introduced;  we  shall  naturally  and 
^visoly  endeavour  to  procure  one,  whence  the  fundamental  errors  of  this 
old  arrarifirc^nient  are  exeludod  altogether.  Seeing,  then,  that  Individua* 
lity  IS  the  main  source  of  evil,  in  the  present  proceedings  of  mankind  at 
lar<;c,  that  must  necessarily  bo  left  out  of  any  scheme,  which  will  war* 
rant  us  in  expecting  an  iinprovemcnt,  in  the  social  situation  of  the  race. 
While,  it  having  been  demonstrated  by  many  examples  that  a  union  of 
exertions  is  most  advantageous,  where  identity  of  Interest  MUST  BE 
preserved,  co-orKUAxioN  will  likewise  constitute  a  part  of  any  arrange- 
ment, trom  which  permanent  aud  extended  benefit  can  be  rationally  ex* 


-.«* 


w 


Owen^s  Sj/stem.  na 

pected  to  arisa  And  as  the  Social  System,  advocated  and  introduced 
by  Mr.  OWEN,  is  based  upon  a  union  of  Interest  and  a  co-operation  of 
labour,  which  we  have  seen  to  be  the  desiderata,  most  desirable  to  bo 
supplied ;  we  ought  at  least  to  examine  that,  before  we  proceed  further 
in  the  search,  in  which  we  have  supposed  ourselves  to  be  cngajjetl.  In 
order,  tlierefore,  that  the  reader  may  do  this — that  he  may  become  ac- 
quainted with  the  Regulations  as  well  as  the  principles  of  the  proposal 
alteration — tliat  its  enemies  as  well  as  its  friends  may  know  the  justice, 
or  injustice,  of  their  enmity  and  approbation — that  tJie  one  may  sugj^est 
improvements  and  the  other  spy  out  defects ;  botli  being  calculated  to 
render  the  System  yet  more  perfect  and  comi)lete — we  nt»w  submit  the 
CONSTITUTION  of  the  Parent  Society,  which  has  been  located  at 
New-Harmony,  in  the  State  of  Indiana. 

ConieitUutCon 

OF  THE  NEW-HARMONY  COMMUNITY  OF  KliUALlTY. 

Whew  a  number  of  the  human  family  associate  on  principles,  which  do 
not  yet  influence  the  rest  of  the  world,  a  due  regard  to  the  opinions  of 
others  requires  a  public  declaration  of  the  object  of  their  aj^sociation,  uf 
their  principles,  and  of  their  intents. 

Our  OBJECT,  like  that  of  all  sentient  beings,  is  happiness.  ,-  -  -  ^  . 

Our  PRINCIPLES  are — equality  of  rights,  uninfluenced  by  sex 
or  condition,  jn  all  adults — equalitv  of  duties,  modified  ?)y  physical 
and  mental  conformation — co-operative  union,  in  the  business  and 
amusements  of  life — cojumunitv  of  propertv — kkkeoom  of  speech  and 
action — sincerity,  in  all  our  proceedings — kindnkss,  in  all  our  acti  )n.s 
■^^ouRTESY,  in  all  our  intercourse — order,  in  all  our  arraiijreinent- — 

preservation  of  health ACQUISITION  OK  KNOWLKDOF. iJIt  PRAC- 
TICE OF  ECONOMY,  or  of  producing  and  using  the  best  of  every  thing  in 
the  most  beneficial  manner — obediencc  to  tiik  laws  of  the  country 
in  which  we  live. 

We  hold  it  to  be  self  evident — that  Man  is  unifornily  actuated 
by  a  desire  of  happiness — that  no  member  of  the  human  family  is  born 
with  rights,  either  of  possession  or  exemption,  superior  to  those  of  lii.s 
fellows — that  freedom  is  the  sincere  expression  of  every  sentiment  and 
opinion ;  and,  in  the  direction  of  every  action,  is  tiic  unalienable  right  of 
each  human  being  and  cannot  justly  be  limited  but  by  his  own  cor. sent 
— that  the  preservation  of  life,  in  its  most  perfect  state,  is  the  first  of  all 
practical  considerations — and  that,  as  wo  live  in  the  State  of  Indiana, 
submission  to  its  laws,  and  to  tliosc  of  the  General  Government,  is  ne- 
cessary. 

Experience  has  taught  ns — that  man's  character,  mental,  moral,  and 
physical,  is  the  result  of  his  formation,  his  loj-ation,  and  of  the  circum- 
stances within  which  he  exists — tliat  man,  at  birth,  is  formed  unconsci- 
ously to  himself,  is  located  without  his  consent,  and  circumsia'UM!d 


60  Owen's  System. 

wthout  his  control — that,  therefore,  man's  character  is  not  ot'his  own 
formation. 

And  reason  teaches  us,  that,  to  a  being  of  such  a  nature,  artificial  re- 
wards and  punishments  are  equally  inapplicable;  kindness  is  the  only 
consistent  mode  of  treatment,  and  courtesy  the  only  rational  species  of 
deportment. 

We  have  observed,  in  tlie  affiiirs  of  the  world,  that  man  is  powerful  in 
action,  etlicient  in  production,  and  happy  in  social  life,  only  as  he  acts 
co-operatively  and  unitedly — co-operative  union,  therefore,  we  consi- 
der as  indispensable  to  the  attainment  of  our  object.  .• 

We  have  remarked,  that,  where  the  greatest  results  have  been  pro- 
duced by  co-operative  union.  Order  and  Kc<momy  were  the  principal 
means  of  their  attainment — experience,  therefore,  places  Order  and  Kco- 
noiiiy  among  our  principles. 

The  departure  from  the  principle  of  man's  equal  rights,  which  is  ex- 
hibited in  the  arrangement  of  individual  property,  we  have  seen  succeed- 
ed by  compciition  and  opposition,  by  jealousy  and  dissenlion,  by  extra- 
vagance and  poverty,  by  tyranny  and  .><lavery — therefore,  we  revert  to 
the  principle  of  Community  of  Property. 

Where  the  will  and  the  power  exist,  the  result  produced  is  proportion- 
ed to  the  knowledge  of  the  agent;  and,  in  practice,  we  have  found,  that 
an  increase  of  intelligence  is  ecpially  an  increase  of  happiness — therefore, 
we  seek  intelligence,  as  we  seek  happiness  itself. 

.As  the  first  and  most  important  knowledge,  we  seek  to  know  our- 
fjclvrs.  Hut  we  search  for  Uiis  knowledge  in  vain,  if  our  fellow-creatures 
<lo  not  express  to  us,  openly  and  unreservedly,  what  they  feel  and  think — 
therrfore,  our  knowledge  remains  imperfect  without  sincerity.  ,  , 

We  have  seen  misery  produced  by  the  great  Iqading  principles  which 
prevail  over  the  world — therefore,  we  have  not  adopte<l  them.  We  have 
always  found  Truth  productive  of  happiness,  and  Error  of  misery — there- 
fore, Truth  leads  to  our  object,  and  we  agree  to  follow  Trutli  only. 
Truth  IS  consistent,  and  in  unison  with  all  facts  ;  Error  is  inconsistent, 
and  oppose<l  to  facts.  Our  reason  has  convinced  us  of  the  theoretical 
truth  of  our  principles ;  our  experience  of  their  practical  utiUty. 

For  thes<;  reasons — with  this  object — and,  on  these  principles,  WE, 
the  uiMlersigned,  form  ourselves  and  our  children  into  a  Society  and 
Community  of  Etpiality,  for  the  benefit  of  ourselves,  and  our  children, 
and  the  human  race ;  and  do  agree  to  the  following 

OF  UNION  AND  CO-OPKRATION. 


ARTICLE  I 

The  Society  shall  be  called  "The  New-Harmony  Community  of 
Equality." 

'       ARTICLE  H. 
Bee   I    All  the  members  of  the  Community  shall  be  considered  ai 


*  ■  ■     "    *   . 


J    i 


Owen*s  System.  6t^ 

one  family,  and  no  one  shall  be  held  in  higher  or  lower  estimation  on  ac- 
count of  occupation.  Sec.  2.  There  shall  be  similar  food,  clothing,  and 
education,  as  near  as  can  be,  furnished  for  all,  according  to  their  ages ; 
and,  as  soon  as  practicable,  all  shall  live  in  similar  houses,  and  in  all  re- 
spects be  accommodated  alike  Sec  3.  Every  member  shall  render  his, 
or  her,  best  services  for  the  good  of  the  whole,  according  to  the  Rules 
and  Regulations,  that  may  be  hereafter  adopted  by  the  Community. 

ARTICLE    111. 

It  shall  always  remain  a  primary  obj<?ct  of  the  Community  to  give  the 
best  physical,  moral,  and  intellectual  education  to  all  its  members. 

.' ■'  "v  .turc'.o  tnj        ARTICLE  IV. 

Sec.  1.  The  power  of  making  laws  shall  be  vested  in  the  Assembly. 
Sec  2.  The  Assembly  shall  consist  of  all  liie  resident  members  of  the 
Community,  who  are  above  the  age  of  twenty  one  years ;  one  sixth  of 
whom  shall  be  necessary  to  form  a  (juorum  for  the  transaction  of  busi- 
ness. 

ARTICLE  V.  V*  t  . 

Sfx.  1.  The  Executive  power  of  the  Community  shall  be  vested  in  a 
Council,  to  consist  of  the  Secretary,  Treasurer,  and  Commissary  of  the 
Community,  and  four  Superintendents  of  J)(^purtnients,  to  be  chosen  as 
hereinafter  provided.  Sec  2.  The  Secretary,  Troasuror,  and  Commis- 
sary shall  be  elected  by  the  Assembly.  Sec.  3.  Tlie  Community  shall 
be  divided  into  six  Departments — Of  Agriculture — Of  Manufactures 
and  Mechanics — Of  Literature,  Science,  and  Education — Of  Doniostic 
Economy — Of  General  Economy — and  of  Commerce.  And  these  De- 
partments shall  be  subdivided  into  Occupations.  Sec  4.  The  individu- 
als of  each  occupation,  above  sixteen  years  of  age,  shall  nominate  to  the 
Assembly  for  confirmation  their  Intcndent ;  and  the  Intendents  of  each 
Occupation,  which  shall  consist  of  three  or  more  persons,  shall  nominate 
the  Superintendent  of  their  own  Department:  Provided,  that  the  Com- 
missary be  Superintendent  of  the  Department  of  Domestic  Economy, 
and  the  Treasurer,  of  the  Department  of  Commerce,  And  tfiat,  for  the 
purpose  of  nominating  Superintendents,  the  Department  of  Commerce 
shall  be  united  to  the  Department  of  Literature,  Science,  and  Education, 
and  the  Department  of  Domestic  Economy  to  that  of  General  Economy. 
Sec  6.  Whenever  it  shall  happen  that  the  nomination  of  an  Intendent, 
or  Superintendent,  shall  not  be  confirmed,  another  nomination  shall  bo 
made  in  like  manner,  until  it  shall  receive  the  sanction  of  the  Anscmbiy ; 
and  when  so  confirmed,  the  Secretary,  Superintendents,  and  Intendents 
shall  hold  their  offices  respectively  during  the  pleasure  of  the  Assembly. 
Sec  6.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Executive  Council  to  make  all  con- 
tracts, to  carry  into  effect  all  general  regulations,  and  generally  to  con- 
duct and  superintend  all  the  concerns  of  the  Community,  subject  at  all 
times  to  its  direction,  expressed  by  a  majority  in  the  Assembly,  and  com- 
municated in  writing  by  the  Clerk  of  the  Assembly  to  the  Secretary. 
Sxc.  7.  The  Executive  Council  shall  also  report,  weekly,  to  the  Assem- 
My  all  the  proceedings,  accounts,  receipts,  and  expenditures  of  each  De- 
partment toad  Occupation,  aijid  their  opinion  of  the  character  of  each  In- 
tcndent,  vmi  Hke  Intendents'  opinion  of  the  daily  character  of  each  per- 
SOD ,  attached  to  their  Occupation.    And  all  the  acc<»unts  of  the  Coftiihu* 


Owen's  System. 

nity  shall  be  balanced  at  least  once  in  each  month,  and  the  results  com- 
municated to  the  Assembly,  Sec.  8.  All  the  Reports  of  the  Superin- 
tendents and  of  the  Secretary,  and  all  the  transactions  of  the  Assembly 
shall  be  registered  and  carefully  kept  for  perpetual  reference.  Sec.  9. 
The  Assembly  shall  also  register  weekly  its  opinion  of  the  Executive 
Council ;  and  the  Council,  in  like  manner,  its  opinion  of  ti;e  character 
and  of  the  proceedings  of  the  Assembly. 

ARTICLE  VI. 

No  person  shall  hereafter  be  admitted  a  member  of  this  Community, 
without  the  consent  of  a  majority  of  all  the  members  of  the  Assembly; 
and  no  person  shall  be  ilismissed  the  Community,  but  by  a  vote  ol'  two- 
tliirdu  of  all  the  members  of  the  Assembly :  and,  in  neither  instance,  un- 
til the  subject  shall  have  been  discusbed  at  two  successive  weekly  meet- 
ings. 

ARTICLE  VII.  ^ 

The  Real  Estate  of  tlie  Community  shall  be  held  in  perpetual  trust  for 
ever,  for  the  use  of  the  (^Jommunity,  and  all  its  members  for  the  lime  be- 
ing; and  every  person  leaving  tlie  ('ominunity  shall  forfeit  all  claun  there- 
to, or  interest  therein.  But  such  person  shall  be  entitled  to  receive  his, 
or  her,  just  vroportion  of  the  value  of  such  real  estate,  acquired  dur- 
ing Ujo  time  of  his,  or  her,  membership — to  be  estimated  and  determined 
as  is  provided  in  ca.ses  of  settlenient  for  the  services  of  members  so  leav- 
ing tlie  Cumumnity. 

,  ARTICLE  VIIL  , 

Each  member  shall  have  right  of  resignation  of  niembership  on  giving 
to  the  Community  one  u'eek's  notice  of  his,  or  her,  intention ;  and,  when 
any  member  shall  so  leave  die  Conmiunity,  or  shall  be  dismissed  there- 
from, he  shall  be  entitled  to  receive,  in  the  proper  products  of  the  Com- 
munity, such  compensation  for  previous  services,  as  justice  shall  require 
— to  be  determined  by  the  Council,  subject  to  an  appeal  to  the  Assem- 
bly ;  and  respect  being  had  to  the  gains,  or  losses,  of  the  Community 
during  the  time  of  his,  or  her,  mend)ership,  as  well  as  to  the  expenses  of 
the  individual,  and  of  his,  or  her,  family  for  education  or  otherwise. 

ARTICLE   IX.  >    ! 

Skc,  1.  No  member  of  the  Community,  except  their  agent,  or  agents, 
regularly  authorized,  shall  make  any  contract  for,  or  on  account  of,  the 
Comnmnity,  nor  contract  any  individual  debt.  Nor  shall  the  Communi- 
ty be  answerable  for  any  debt,  or  contract,  of  any  individual,  made  or  en- 
tered into,  before,  or  after,  becoming  a  member ;  and  any  member  leav- 
ing tlie  Community  shall  not  be  answerable  for  the  debts  of  the  Commu- 
nity. Skc.  2.  No  crkdit  shall,  on  any  account,  be  given  or  received 
by  the  ('ommunity,  or  their  agent  or  agents  ;  except  for  such  property  or 
money  as  may  be  advanced  by  Robert  Owen,  or  William  M'Clurc,  or  by 
members  of  the  Community. 

ARTICLE  X.      ,     ■?,    '   "    V      '    ., 

Any  mrmbor  bringing  money  into  the  Community  shall  receive  a  cer- 
tificate of  the  same,  stating  the  amount ;  he  shall  be  credited  with  the 
panic  amount  on  the  books  of  the  Community,  which  shall  be  paid  over 
to  the  iiHlividual  should  he,  or  she,  leave  the  Commimitv. 


OweiVs  S^siem.  ^      83 

ARTICLE   XI. 

Every  member  shall  enjoy  the  most  perfect  freedom  on  all  subjects  of 
knowledge  and  opinion ;  especially  on  the  aubjeot  of  Religion. 

-  ARTICLE  XII. 

Children  of  deceased  members  shall  continue  to  enjoy  all  tlie  privile- 
ges of  membership. 

ARTICLE  XIII. 

All  misunderstandings,  that  may  arise  between  the  members  of  the 
Community,  shall  be  adjusted  within  the  Community. 

ARTICLE  XIV.  1^oM*«.: 

As  this  System  is  directly  opposed  to  sccresy  and  exclusion  of  any 
kind,  every  practical  facihty  shall  be  given  to  strangers,  to  enable  them 
to  become  acquainted  with  tlie  regulations  of  the  Community,  and  to  ex- 
amine the  results  which  tliese  have  produced  in  practice.  And  an  unre- 
served explanation  of  the  views  and  proceedings  of  the  Community  shall 
be  communicated  to  the  government  of  the  country. 

ARTICLE  XV. 

This  Constitution  may  be  altered ,  or  amended,  by  a  vote  of  three- 
fourths  of  all  the  members  of  Assembly ;  but  not  until  the  subject  has 
been  discussed  at  Foun  successive  public  meetings,  to  be  held  in  four 
successive  weeks. 

•      "  ******  .       .' 

We  hope  tho  reader  has  perused  this  Constitution  with  the  dehberate 
attention,  which  the  importance  of  the  object,  it  is  intended  to  secure, 
most  imperiously  requires.  We  iiope  he  has  enabled  himself,  by  an  ex- 
amination of  it,  to  understand  the  principles,  which  Mr.  Owen  is  desi- 
rous to  spread,  as  well  as  the  Regulations,  that  have  been  deemed  pro- 
per and  necessary  for  their  introduction  and  support.  At  all  events,  it 
seems  to  us  a  document,  so  easily  to  be  understood,  that  we  shall  not  de- 
tain the  reader  by  any  commentary  upon  its  merits,  or  its  defects ;  but 
shall  proceed  to  offer  a  very  tlw  remarks,  respecting  the  jiresent  expe- 
rience and  prospects  of  the  Society  for  which  it  has  been  framed. 

And  it  aflbrds  us  much  satisfaction  to  state,  tiiat  according  to  the  la- 
test information  from  Indiana,  the  new  Institution  was  proceeding  har- 
moniously to  test  the  System,  by  the  operation  of  which,  thousands  are 
already  anticipating  a  deliverance  from  the  worse  than  Egyptian  bondage 
of  their  present  state.  Although  scarcely  a  year  has  elapsed  since  the 
commencement  of  the  Preliminary  Association,  upwards  of  1000  indivi- 
duals are  now  practising  the  Constitution,  we  have  submitted,  at  the 
original  seat  of  its  formation  and  its  use.  They  have  experienced,  it  is 
true,  considerable  inconvenience  from  the  physical  impossibility  of  at  once 


•fT-T 


til  .>  Ou'tiia  Si/slem. 

realizing  ihe  plan,  which  Mr.  Owen  has  so  happily  sketcheil.  But  uoi« 
withstanding  the  want  of  adequate  accommodation — in  spite  of  the  con- 
trariety of  habits  and  expectations — yea,  even  in  the  absence  of  tha*.  full 
theoretic  knowledge  and  matured  practical  experience,  which  tiicir  be- 
nevolent leader  so  eminently  [)OssesHes — these  thousand  strangers  arc 
progressing,  or  rather  have  been  progreasing,  towards  the  establishment 
uf  that  comfort  and  just  independeuco,  which,  under  the  old  system,  it 
would  have  been  foolish  to  expect.  They  may  even  now  congratulate 
themselves  upon  their  arrival  at  a  pecuniary  harbour  ;  while,  as  it  respects 
money  affairs,  the  rest  of  the  world  arc  yet  at  sea.  We  hope  then  they  will 
contumc  to  exhibit  that  persevering  circum.spection,  which  their  situation 
and  object  equally  demand.  The  eyes  of  Europe  and  America  are 
'jcatching  their  operations.  The  hopes  of  Nations  are  pendent  on  their 
success.  The  happiness,  or  degradation,  of  innumerable  generations 
will  ilepend  upon  their,  career.  V\  c  do,  therefore,  entreat  these  enlight- 
ened associators  to  pi.rsevkrk,  notwitlistanding  the  temporary  mconve- 
iiience,  the  per&onal  sacrifice  of  feeling  and  habit,  and  all  tliat  abuse  or 
misrepresentation,  which  it  may  yet  be  necessary  for  them  to  encounter 
and  es.snntial  to  overcome.  And  in  truth  they  need  not  consider  the 
privuli«tns,  which  such  an  alteration  as  they  are  attempting  must  neces- 
sarily produce  in  the  beginning,  as  witliout  a  reward  ;  since  they  will  not 
merely  procure  them  independence,  security,  and  even  opulence,  at  no 
very  distant  perio<l,  but  will  cause  their  names  to  descend  to  the  most 
distant  posterity,  as  tiioso  of  tiic  real  benkfactors  of  mankind. 

But  the  present  inhabitants  of  New-Harmony  are  called  upon  to  per^ 
severe  in  their  career,  not  only  on  account  of  the  positive  good,  botii  im- 
mediate and  prospective  which  their  System  is  calculated  to  effect ;  but 
also  on  account  of  the  hypocrisy  and  error,  which  its  successful  continu- 
ance will  be  c  ;itain  to  root  up.  For  ba.-iod  upon  tiie  only  true  principles 
of  religious  freedom,  wliich  consider  the  conduct  of  a  man  to  be  the  only 
reasonable  ground  I'or  our  censure,  or  approbation,  it  leaves  the  faith  of 
its  members  for  the  judgment  of  the  Most  High.  Presuming,  therefore, 
to  act,  with  respect  to  the  oii.^rio.Ns  of  mankind,  in  accordance  with  an 
ancient  but  too  frequently  disn^garded  admonition,  which  says,  "judge 
not,  lest  ye  also  be  judged, "  we  hope  the  followers  of  this  new  arraDgo- 
ment  may  forbid  the  entrance  into  their  settlements  of  that  virtual  porso- 
cution,  which,  even  Hl^lRK  so  extensively  prevails.  So  tlmt  with  regard 
to  bigotry,  as  well  as  social  errors,  they  may  bo  able  justly  to  exclaim, 
"  old  things  are  passed  away,  bohold !  all  things  are  become  New.*' 


Iwlng^s  Sermon 

'    ON  NATIONAL   DISTRESS.  &r 


In  the  preceding  divisions  of  our  Paui|dilct,  \vc  attt'inplcd  to  rxposo 
the  causes  olthut  pecuniary  enibarrassnient  and  consejpuMit  moral  de- 
tjradatiou,  which,  at  this  time,  so  unhappily  exist.  We  al.^o  endeavour- 
ed to  draw  the  attention  of  the  reader  to  the  nature  and  prtJgress  of  the 
llemcdy  for  distress,  which  ISIr.  Owen's  Sysleta  pronuses  to  supply. 
Hut  in  thus  attennpting  to  account  lor  the*  pecuniary  suflerinj;  which  is 
experienced  at  presi^rit,  an<l  metre  [tarticularly  for  that  existinj;  m)  exten- 
sively amon<;  the  liritish  people,  we  i^Miorantly  stipposed  it  to  arise  from 
the  folly  and  injustice  of  Man.  We,  tiierefore,  considered  it  to  he  cura- 
ble hy  measures,  tliat  man  himself  was  able  to  devise  arnl  to  adopt.  It 
socnis  however  wo.  were  altoj;ethcr  wronij  as  to  the  rouse  of  \]\i-  disease  ; 
and  conse<piently  it  cannot  surpri.c  llie  reatler  that  we  >hould  be  inL^lak- 
'  u  with  rcf^ard  to  a  Remedy  for  the  complaint. 

It  appears  then,  if  we  credit  the  Presbyt«>rian  prophet,  whose  Sermon 
Me  propose  to  insert  and  to  /itr/Vu;'.  that  the  Conunercial  and  Manufac- 
tiiriiig  Distresses  of  Knifland  have  arisen /r«/H  ilie.  on^n-  nf  tt.e  Lord. 
The  crashing  of  her  lianks,  the  insolvency  of  her  Merchants,  the  starva- 
tion of  her  sons,  with  the  MlJRDKll  of  some  by  the  .soldiers,  wlio 
are  caused  to  repress  the  clamour,  that  famine  has  produced,  are  all  at- 
tributed to  the  Ahnighty,by  thceidightened  Presbyterian  parson,  whose 
iliscourse  we  are  now  introducing  for  the  infijrnuition  of  the  reader.  For, 
in  stating  that  the  Distress  has  arisen  from  the  Lord,  it  necessarily  fol- 
lows that  lie  is  the  author  of  the  (ffects,  which  that  distress  may  happen 
to  produce.  It  becomes  necessary,  therefor<;,  to  examine  tin*  reasoning 
of  our  priest,  before  we  complain  of,  or  attempt  to  remove,  iIk;  burden 
that  oppresses  us;  seeing  that,  if  it  is  imposed  by  the  Most  High,  it  is 
alike  impious  and  imavailing  to  murumr  or  resist.  On  thi«  gromid  then, 
the  Discourse  of  Mr.  Irving  solicits  att«iition,  as  well  a^  un  several  other 
and  important  particulars,  which  will  hereafter  appear. 

As  we  stated  in  a  former  part  of  our  publi<*ation,  we  were  l»y  no  meaas 
desirous  to  introduce,  what  is  called,  Religion,  into  the  «'onsi«ieration  of 
a  subiect,  that  has  little  to  do  with  the  true  adoration  of  our(iod.  For 
whatever  may  be  our  opini<m  of  tlie  various  and  varying  theological  sen- 
timents, that  are  professed  among  us,  aiui  ai  i.  of  which  claim  an  original 
essentially  Divine ;  dubious  as  we  may  be  respecting  the  real  parentage 
of,  at  least  a  portion  of  them  :  dilhcidt  as  it  is  to  determine,  about  some, 
whether  they  bring  bring  "  airs  ihmx  heaven  or  blasts  from  hell,"  it  was 
not  our  intentirm  tt)  cpiestion  them  at  this  time.  Hut  the  Sermon  of  our 
Presbyterian  leader  has  altered  the  resolution,  we  ha«l  made;  for  he  re- 
ally appears  in  so  very  "  questionable  a  shape  "  that  we  must  "  .speak  to 
him,  tiiough  hell  itself  should  gape  and  biti  us  hold  our  p<  ace.'  Indeed, 
\\c  ccnsiiler  ourselves  jtistificd  in  rescinding  our  drtciminntion,  when  wc 


g , ,  Irving* s    Serin n u . 

run!  a  *(it'tii*oitt  niiiii'ti  I  lit' J«  lio^uli  I  n.»  I J  IN  .  iii«  >o\ir«i(»n  wlKwr  arn- 
lja->;iil<'r  l»'  |>rt»l'.  s-.  >  !•»  l»«-.  t'atclmit;  liiiii  witliuiit  tin-  ari'iiu.  ulnrrin 
lie  1^  |tri\ ill ;,'«(( to  iiiier  luystcry  aiitl  iioiimiim*  miiIkiuI  t>\aiiui>uiioii  or  re- 
proof, wt*  h«*UI  tuiii  l<»  U'  iijM'U  lu  aiiiiiitihi-riuu.  li'iiuUttl  lii^  iiic(t!<'\  hr 
not  v«'l  more  woriliy  of  luir  roiiU'iti|>i.  A*  hom*vfr  lir  ha-.  |ir«M*ri>iii'ti 
Mitlioiil  lli<>  lilK'  itf  lu.'*  |troft'MilOli.  M<-  liultl  liilii  to  Im*  fair  !;:iin«*  .  uiul  u<* 
>liall  ai-<-«»iiliiii;l\  priMMil  to  fMruti*  iiiiii.  a^  lli«-v  f«>riiii-rl\  iinii);  acriiii- 
iiial    uliMi.  like  our  |irt':ulM-r,  Ih-  \eiitur«<l  Im'VoimI  ilir  |iroti-ctitin  of  th(> 

Churcli 

I'lit.  I<">t  our  |uii:.Mi«'nt  filiouUl  Im-  «-oi  *  iuM'nlU'«l  for  ami  uiitu^t 

let   uf  <.lioulil  Im- rli  "  •    •  ••  •" '•  •  .'..III   or  (|clu>i\«*  iiifrri-iirr, 

with  rr!.|n'rMo  till- I*'  -...,.  .iihiiiil  ihr  whole uf 

X\\v  ^'.\lrurt^  from  hii»  thM-uunM*.  «lii<-h  iu\<'  ronic  luniath  our  iiotKo 
uikI  \\M\\'it\  all  thai  lu\«»  Imm-ii  ofli'Mtl  lo  llw  |iuI»Ih*  ffgarti       It  iiiny  iiol 
howivi  r  !»«•  uini-'<  li»r«in«rlk,  Ifforr  hi-  |iri>>i-nt  llio  K&lrart»th«  lu^i'lve*, 
th.-ii  tlirir  »-"'-<  '    -  *  .-•  1. 1.' .!•  .1  |irrar|M*r  iii  ih*-  Hriiirh  M(tro|Mili!t.  ami 
that   as  jir  ■  ...  V  '  tr  |Mtu'«'r<*  of  a  <M*«-r.  Ii«*  iiia\  l-t*  ron^uler- 

I'tl  aM  lN>tli  u  |iro|»li(t  and  a  |iric«t.  Wf  iiitniioii  tin.  Unt  Um*  rratlcr  may 
Im*  aware  Ih*  i*  alMMit  lo  trrmi  on  *  lioh  tfoxiiHl.  ami  ihat  rofi«(*«iiK-titly 
h«'   iiiav  rniM'iM' tin- wmk  ar'*«»rihiii»  !••  «h«'  pr.  •    •  •  "<  hrli   Mr   Ir- 

\\u\l  iuiiiMlf  hail  |.l.ir.il  iMliirf  tin*  wmiI.I 

(^/*  ll  will  \<f  oliorrvnl  that  u<  Invr  nHmtifrtil  ihr  Fmfnipli*.  (*tT 
tin-  sake  «if  rrfrrrnr©  ami  bavr  (ilariHl  UiHrcti  brarkrU  tboM  parts  %>{' 
thn  Sf-riiion.  that  %v  derm  iBor«  |»artiriilAily  «(»rthy  uf  ftltctttiun  ami  re- 
mark 

K\TKA(  TS    VUOW    1111.  SKinioN 

TiiK  T«*t  wa-  ii'i.i  l..fc»  .  t.—pd.  lh*QI«l.  rhap*rf.  •!»''  •'■•  •.' .  i.   j....  -•«.!;.   '..r. 

nr*. — "   \ri<l  iIm  re  all*!!  br  ai^i*  iti  ibt*  imm.  Alitl  in  Uir  '              <  ■  <i  in  Itif*  tfari,  tlu\ 

ii|Miii  »                                                                          .             •  >                       ■    nHtr- 

i/i*;,  lu           ,              >        .        •  •     ■  _•     whi^h 

art' roniiiif  u|»»M  Ihr  r«tUi,  liK  III*                      //  <  ikni." 

I.  Th.    '              '     rrarlicr          -  •       •     •'f''sn*rtf 

|h»*  <"''l"   •  *Hr»'  m ;   !>«•. 

Ill/  t'  •■»!«  r  «  ■       \ 

out  I-  --  .   !  •«».  »*fi  ':.  -■  \'a- 

b«*aiiu  i>ritii  liri|{liliM'«^  <  4  iliMidy  •liy.otrVBraatil'pml  and  orbl<«td.  " 

'i.  "I  n-tf«rJ.  '  ♦  '     f   \  h*'i   **lli«t}am  h  opf-nrd 

nn<l<T  our  t'rH  II  ■  n.      •%*!.  raiMiptRM  «  i«'>«Jt!iit 

nur  iMti'iii  «  -itt'iiir.       '/''It  *Aorit.  whi'h  "uf  't.iif)).  in 

iIk-  Iii^'Iii*^!  . :..:  .  li  '..  h  ffAndf-ur.  wtIm^ii  all  iiion  »•  :•  .,:\,  __  ■<-..»•  t>t  ttio 
i«l«i!.  I  rt-ifanl  an  find't  ttgH, — HUNT.  i«»  irarh  Ihm  Unil  liow  *ii|>«-fi<  ..il  .in-  the 
\-i«\V)«  111"  '     -•  '  riiUiii»iis  oi'thr  ><)  ••!  |>'>>''<'         That, 

th'iiij/h  t  iimI  in  all  haf  litii.M  r>.  M  Ml  |ii'<ii«  iiiMkt 

w.irtT.il.  a«i<l  all  h  iM<i!t  nn  t><>3r«:  udjnii  oiraitir.  yrl  tin-   l.nni    halh  in   his 

fftiiro  travfrmiij;  wild*.  miiJ  nlur;  .-  ;•  jilv  ai  hi»  wilf.  a;;aiti-.t  «lii<li.  h'-ithi  r  thr* 
ni'hiinru  of  tiur  nnulttufifn.  tftr  titc  u-imJihh  ofour  |{uvrrni>r».  n<>r  Ihr  «lradv  |i€t- 
wvoraiHi' ofiMir  <       '."] 

T.  •'  Vs  I  i'  .  II  .  .-r  nati'in*.  'irhirh  Ihf  l.«»RI>  h.itii  lirrihiv  >Ii«'k- 

» '1.  11  ln>  .ni;»<  r.  onrinjr  the  la«T  '.V\  \-.\t*.  will  i-v«r  \-'  r»-^t«»r»Ml  to  th«-  Hat*-  m 
wliK  ll  (i//  Uiiiic-  w»rv  Im  l<tri>  thix-  vir*  utomrti.  i»  I  do  n"t  fX|»«-.  t  /Af  v  w-ill  ••'»iim* 
Tl:xout:h  th«j  «iv'iu.,  ^mt  w;U  «  hk  •'ml  utirriv  "v  d<>wn  iu  tlial  trrr..'!©  .V;^'!.'  'wh    U 


,dol,a.  n>  oj  poi.tnal  w.sdo,,..  „:i....„al  wallh,  a,..l  .■..i.„„.r.iMl  ,,r..s,M.r.t  v  "  ' 

Will.  .L''Ls^';;.V'';!      In  '"T*^"''^**  ••'/**" ''"'/''^'  ""•  '-"^'^  ••  '"•"''^'  '"'v-V  uralh 
Willi  iix  also,  411(1    Wt"  sijall  lint  cHca  iir  llii' iiTrii.i..  /».       .•  i  i  .        •      , 

HE  IS  AllUl  TMO  VISIT  TIIJ     N  \(   ovt     .r"    ""^  .M"*^"""'^. «'"' ^viu.  . 
I,»il.  ^,,  ,.  ,  •  •"      •'^   »  I  M'.N.-^.      '>!    will,  h  f(w,„i.r  visHiitiu.-is  y/f 

o?oif  '"••  v'>;'''Hj:.-M..I.H,s,,.„..,  u-..|.av.n.,nv..dlu.n,u.,lu.  v.tai« 

;k-i    .V  -.  '^■*""'  'V'""""'  Uv  ,,o,t.„l.f  ofwl...  I.  llM■s^.l;.^s  aiv  full, 

Ui«l  Ui>  naiioii,  having  rrroirrrrftron.  hrr  tr.als  and  (.on,,.  |,..r  1.,  „vv  iMml.ns  vvitli 
»  iu.-n..,.,..tty  a^t.  •  'v  .rv.-n  i,.  hcrM-ir.  and  U.-  .o  I,.-,-...  »ull,„  uk;,  ,.,.  „i  ,|,o 
iniwol  lutM.ual  |...  .  .  and  -i..ry,,  ii.x.r  dr.Min.d  oljud^in.nt  n.-ur  at  hand. 
And,  It  i«  ini...  timt,  *.Mi,ii,o«.  wl...  an-  hkii.i.ku  hi  m.^riiKiir  .Sri|.tur.«  ..oi.iU.d 
cul  Um^- j.ali'Mi.  nt^  ilu.y  w.p-  m«i  ntiiui.frl.t.  as  nun  Ix.ri.  ...it  ori,,,,,..  v|,..  miL'lit 
liavr  |ir  idi.-x.d  ol  lliow.  thin::-  llnrty  yi-ars  a|,o,  liiit  w.r.'  iU'vn»',i  iiin<liiii  ii  l.v  ll.o 
*"''■■'     '  ati-.n.      H  iMiiiia/iM;rli<.\v  <a!ainitv  arroJs  lliiir  iitlnitK.n, 

•*"'  '  '  '"  '"•  <aii::(it.     'I'll,.  l,„!d,.„t  lor.k  w"iili  .i.MiiQy  II,  ilio  lUfu  ui' 

<.i..-  atiuiiMT,  and  ^ay.  -  what  ntranrlh  it      whal  rauwlh  ilr  win  ri  is  it  to  nid.'   ' 

.1.  ,  ••  It  i-i  Ol  It   iH-iicf.  us  wvW  as  the  hplu.f  of  tli<-  Im-kI  int,r|ir«-l.rs  »i'  tirojifori/, 

that  lit.-  l..ii^»  jM-riod.  ui  will,  h  ih..  <;.  i.tiliK  tr..d  ll;.«  Holy  (  ity  m.d«  r  (i.ot.  waK  th« 

'  '  i:min\tui  :{H  y..ar>ai'«>.     rin- ^laliDi.ulaii  caji- 

'"    '  "^ukm.  and  till"  uliuiiiiiiation  .d"  Amii  l«t  !•«' aiini- 

'  '  tn«»  "tun*  ttii  of  j';d:r,n..Mt  in  wliiih  Inlidtl.ty  w  ii.i,    uxikaii.!!:      In 

yi'anu  ALL  Hip  «i;rn,  IIXVK  iiKK.N  A(.\(>Ml'l,lSlii,l),  uJ.i.h  v,.t« 

I  .1  l.y  ..ur  L.rd  a»  «:".i.t  to  Ji.i,.|M.n  Jur  liii-  y^P-nt  and  Irrr.M,-  day.    \\  t-  liavo 

'•  ."^  ..I'lhrM-yrar!*  .if  (>ni<  ii.  ailnionitioiis  and  svnip- 

'  ■ ..  .  .  .  II  tl.f  M'cds  id  thr  discasi- in  f.iir  iMinxtitnt.f.n  .all- 

inat'ut  iiiinKHl.ati;  remedy.     Tin"  wun.iiK?  han  Uen  llin-f-fold— tin-  ilis«  nnnatum 

tif  iiitidil  |>r!f,      '        the  |»ro|iaj.'u!i'>ii  i»t/^.«//;/io«/nv«i<Mtnnfs:  and   li.o  shaking 

f.f  XaL.'.iH     ..     .    I.". 

Ii.  "Thf  l.'.rd,  iiavinir  <:r,nt  pir|i.s«js  to  n.Toin|>IiHh  l.y  nieaiiK  of  tins  nation. 
wL:'*li  i«ai..t  w  r  •■i.-|.oIiti<  qI  ,».;.r,<  li.ar\  ot<ljii».tfiidiiin,  did  int  «il:(pw  Ikt  to  Fink 
U'idrr  tlic  bi.  .'  to  riiM*  more*  ttrriulu  fr«iin  i\ cry  htnitrirlo.       I5»'<  anM-.  hy  <jht 

'•       '  •    '  ' /■'riw'^  was  io  i»t  ax  «in.|)li.>.ln(l.  VS  M^.'M 


'•'•••«  ^      :     •  I   .  I'tjil'iiHt.,  ni.t.l  his*  nnnhur..  of  miijiiily  ua.s 

illU'ti  14^.  ,\i»d,  J...  loiii;  a?.  |ii.ii  M.ifhl  V  on.',  litbourrH  in  Iht  vnrk  to  ir/ur/i  hi  iia.i  «//- 
po$ntrri.  III*  |>UKli*ith.-wtnd  nil  r.\niii|>)r, .« li.T  titr  ilays  of  (■|iarl('n.a;.nii'.  uno  uas 
ood'm  ixntki  Jjr  «r  ior  lil'lLI^IVC  I  i*  rnir  ro%sKK.  wiiu  ii  inK  i.atilk  J{i.o- 
fuiparti-    «  ».'   KAlSLi)  To  (>VKRF''l|{o»\ .     Hut.  wh.ii  tl.iv  Inlid,  !  frin.-..  !.,•- 

t;ttii  to  i»rov»d«'  f  >r  hiwown  |M.rjK>iiiity— to  I'miid  a  dyna>ly — 1«»  intirinany  With  iho 
leitJ  ol  till*  I'apiJ  l!n)|nrc — wIipii  hr  struck  nn  a^'ri-c>ii.<>iit  with  the  l'rin«(!  of  tin* 
.\' ■  '  -tian  C;  iv»'rnrni'nt — whi-n  In- fstaltlisli<'d  natiin  the  Cialliran  <liiir.li:  thuH 
f.>  Ihr  fn'ifio't  fur  trhir'i  In   inn  ruifni   »/>— ih.'ii,  tin-   Lord    willidr«'W  Iiin 

hand,  aitd  roit^iinl  til  HI  to  a  swit'tcr  d.-ytriH  lion,  than  had  pi.-vioiihiy  Li.  n  hib  rise 
to  IntjNTu!  |f>w.T.^  'Ihrii.  liif  J^oj-J  lallt'd  for  th>><  nal.o.i,  win.  h  //'  ha.l  Mt  long 
Jiri'.^TM'd  fniiM  lh.»:««'  dirrt'ul  ronviiJsion.x  that  ^ho(>k  tho  kint'^doins  of  tl»'  ri'titincnt. 
In  otrrthrt*'!-   thf  r-v  of   \\;n   |«iw..r,    wiikn   ins  w.ikk   w  ah  a<  co.\:i'i.imi.:u. 

Aii'l'—tfi  pti!it«li  :  .ifii'ar  nation  (S|tnin    win.  1.  had  mn-i  MJicincntiv  ^tirr' d 

ki^ii.nx'  'lU  i'i'Mf  U,  H'  iiiadf  tlii'ir  kin;.'doin  thf  seal  of  a  srvrii  3  lars' war.  Aid, 
th)*n*,  //  traiiK-d  our  th.*  lin^lifili  raiiiains  ami  hors^cmen.  uiid  picj  un-d  tiniii  fur 
t!nt  dirii'iil  ov>-rllii.»w.  With  whuli  /Ii  .-aM  down  the  ii..i.dtly  on.."' 

7.  *■  Krom  t!ia(  t'ln.-,  thi<  nation,  Ijoini.'  liih'tl  will,  naval  and  in.lilary  aWit 


-/}»  .  .       

I'K'.'l  year  nt  iilos-.-dMcs?.  that  was  .Iccfm  H  to  havi-  <i|>iiiP.i  on  01. r  nation.  Hut  tl.u 
l.^rd.  hif  Diir  liHi  rfl.tstiitfiiii  ii.ivi  .1- t'li' ji.st  and  i*rMj)i'i  s'><ii.  1  y  'hak.ni'  lh:il  pou- 
«:i.  whi'l.  I:aii  li.'id  the  <  fmrrfi  an.l  naii'ui  ir.  f.ital  sjiirMhi'T--  It  '■  hid  tiroiiidil  l.'ii' 
ntnisfsir  ot.'VI  v.N'.rs  to  ptj.-h  a  I'lornms  tpnniMiituin,  that  al!  th"  iia*i<in<>  .if  l!iir'i|H' 
kmlffH  >ip  to  KnL'iatid  and -"aiii.  "  tiip  str*>i);rlh  of  h«T  aim  iay  in  lj<.r  (  omiriiTt  a( 
pvii>j)eri'jr."    f^But.  btdiold.  <a».»  ttafl'und  stay  wl  out  »i^h»  hand  tii»-  ALSii-jin  >  sh-   'i! 


68  fn-U(^.  A   >it'i-)no,-i. 

ill  a  dav,  i»ii<i  1'  '"*"•  lili'^  *  '"•-'•^•i  shakoii  with  I  In-  wind  ! '.]  Rctwoftu  Jipighbour  dUK 
ncijfhiioiir,  ti>\vi)>iiitii  iimi  kiwii-^uhmi,  lirotlu  i  .nid  luollu'i".  (  oiifulctu^c  wus  drstroy- 
0(1.  I  lioiilil  nut,  l)Ul  wr  sIkiH  Vft  rrtovfi-  Uic  slunk  ami  nsi  urtuttr  ami  until' r  ; 
for  ^;/llflall(l  will  Iti-  liii;  LAST  ol"  llic  luilu.iis  to  !.(•  >w.iii(iwi  <l  uj)  lu  lliul  wliirlj-ool 
«>fjiiii;.niinils.  ]  Hut  lliis  iu;iy  tru«  ii  u>  li;iii  (li"  l,>>id  liuth  tin-  aritjvv  in  lus  ijiiivcr, 
wimii  may  lay  lh«!  noblest  Iu-ikI  m  tlie  forest  low.  " 

fi.  J  '  "I  lan  see  a  diseiisi-  neiuriitiiiii  in  tli"  huwels  of  the  lain!,  wiiii  li  of  it.'^eif 
will  strike  lis  down,  if  not  r'undiuU  I  imcuh  llic  urowth  of  iNFiDi.i.n  v  m  rilii;io.'i,:uid 
rif  i.\.stBORi>iNAri(iv  in  scwiiil  lite  1 1  1  perceive /lo/r.  iis  iit  the  Ijeiiiiinin:;  of  tin  so 
y«arM  uf  omen,  ;i  lieirulur  I'arty  of  i'liilosojihert;,  eiiir-.iyed  in  the  servu  e  of  hitiilt  lity. 
1  perceive  liiiidejity  roiichiii;!;  ainoni;  tin;  tlower.s  of  poetry  '.  Iididilit)  appears  in 
the  lir<l  works  ul' srutinieut — //  /<  hniH  "/'  mlo  ii  S./.sltin  ofMO  f\,l  I^S  ai.d  ir' 
advoeiited  in  the  daily  ami  w»;ekly  .louriials.  I'lifilic  I'f'iiitiiii,  ai!H)ii<i  im-ii  otiilieral 
heiilinients,  is  heeoine  llie  v«)i<;e  olCiod;  and  it  ih  no  lonycr  the  old  (,iieeiti'jii  ol' SN  hiji 
and  'i'i>ry,  wliich  rinds  piililie  «le|j;iteM.  ]{iit  } oil  shall  find  l/tts  is  tin-  ipiestioii— shall 
the  nation  re*t  on  irn  li};ion,  as  it  steals  slowly  its  way  to  ruin  ;  or  shall  it  stand  like 
a  rock  of  adaniaiil  t)\  th.-  tear  ofCiod"  Thesi- thini^s  pr(j<  eed  !>y  slow  niirdirs.and 
very  s[>e(■l<•ll^  names,  lint  </  niait  uf  •><  itiln'tnin  (iui  li.si  erii  Iheni.  for  tlierc  is  somc- 
thiiit;  whieh  may  strike  the  stupidest." 

U.  ll  .  "And  <)I  ye  penile  <>f  this  anrienl  i  it) — the  .lernsaleTii  of  tf.o  whole 
fartli — when  ye  consider  the  I'lK  )l'lll,'l>>  whicli  have  been  .'^enl.  ami  the  warniiii;s 
\  V.  have  despiseil,  well   niav    ve  tunilile  at  the  prostx-ct  of'i  uiniiii'   jiidi'ireet.     'I  hi- 

I  Kol'I.K  «)!•  'IlliS  (  riV'  Ii  vVi:  IW.t.OM!.  <'4  'l'-Sl'<,KK.N,  HASH,  ,\M> 
Fir.lorS  IM-  IDKI.S  ::  And  what  Is  the  (  ONSi;(<(  I,.\Cf:.  The  aneienl  re- 
lation otinastrr  a'ld  servant  is  (lianjfed  to  an  aversion,  and  we  are  rnoc  ked  .aid  nial 
treated  of  men  who  t-at  imr  bread  '.  'i'his  oiiinziiii;  revolntino  in  t'i\  il  !il"e  is  the  inaiis 
fruit  of  oiir  new  systt  in  of  INDICATION,  irln""  Inuliyn-ij  ;.v  U)  Jhs/rr,  and  ilun.-h. 
uiui  inniasi ,  lluil  I'uiin,  nfur/i  u  ill  >ii  nlunlh/  iiiniiourr  IS.  Tin?  \  isible  hath 
jrot  the  victory  over  tli"  invisible — the  Mcnsiial  hatli  verily  Iriniiiphed  over  thespi- 
rili;a! — and  this  land  is  llU'i  tor  the  jmiLMiieiif.  'Ihr  finifitithlt  is  almost  every  thin"'., 
and  the  incral  is  all  imt  iiothiii;!  ;  ami  they  :  al!  the  aiv  reliifimis." 

Ih.  "<)  that  nations  woiiUI  learn  a  lesson  of  llieir  instability  ly  that  ri  Virse 
wiiidi  h,  Ii  lieliill  Ml  i;s  withm  the  space  ofoiu!  short  niontii.  i'his  slioit  period  liar 
isccu  till!  most  splendid  fortunes  overtiirown  ;  tlie  most  ancient  and  revered  names; 
dishotioiired;  the  surest  establishments  laid  prostrate;  en  (lit  betwei'ii  n:aii  and  man 
jsuspuided:  and  the  iieeuniary  bulwarks  of  the  nation  'iil)vrrtei!--tne  nalioii  itself 
reeiijii(  ai;d  stancerin^r  liki  a  drunken  man  1 1  Who  lookeil  for  tlie  outward  distress, 
the  destriielion  of  ilic  idolatry  of  coiiiiueni',  the  siai>iiatioii  of  trade.-'  ISut  the  vi  ry 
reversi- (itall  tliis,  peace  abroad,  prosjierity  at  home,  tlourishmif  husbandly,  internal 
resounes.  and  inlifihlnuii  prin'  iples  of  tra<l<'. 

Uul  now,  no  man  knows  what  he  \:-  about,  or  (an  tell  wiial  ma\  (  omr  i»y  to-ir.or- 
rowV  po-t  I  .Almost  all  are  pro.strated  by  the  storm.  And  ■  veii  a  battle  h.irdly  ki!- 
leth  ill"  whole.  'J'he  wolves  of  the  mountauis  anil  the  ti^jers  of  the  desert  di'vour 
not  all,  that  journey  Ihruuiih  tln-se  tearful  siditiides.  .Nor  do  |iesliieiiee  or  taimne 
cut  down  <  veiy  individual.  Vet,  pestilence  and  laimne,  w  irt'are  ami  wild  !'casl«- 
are  the  four  i^^reat  iiistriiments  (d"  hiiiniin  di  strm  liOii,  in  tht  h.ind  of  the  l,()(l|) 
Imt  we  have  aflded  a  hktii.  Tlie  viol-  nt  ll  munitions  in  the  medium  of  e.xchaiiflrc 
(money  circulation;  an  to  the  iiierchant,  uli-it  the  stmins  in  t'uc  >tnio<(>!icre  arc  to 
tlie  air  we  Irealhe  '."' 

\\  ^  tri!-t  tin'  n  'idi  r  I,.t.-  ;i!ior(li'<l  ili  -<•  l!.\ir;i!  l-  Itic  f;:r(liil  cniisKlor;! 
tioii,  uiiicli  titer  -iiojnlnr  ;ii;(l  <Miie\\(irtt  iiiiin^rl.uit  cliiu  Mdcr  c.'ilis  iipoi' 
I'llii  to  lii'-;t»»\vi.  Ami  \\v  l>r<j,  tl  ;ii  ],■•  \\\\\  \,\  lUcmir  us  uitli  his  Httt'li-- 
ti"ii,  V,  liilc  \\r  atlenird  liricllv  to  IIcmcw  .so  r<Tii;irl,iil)l('  a  (ii.--c«iiirse. 
A--  II  V,  ill  he  iinjMjs.sihlr  tor  >;s  iiov.i  vrr.  tordcrto  ;i'i  the  roiiir;ulirtioii.s 
and  tmsrenr.'scntiitioiis  wliicli  it  roiitai'is,  '.vc  have  finleavotircil,  bv  [iiit- 
hiiii  -luiif  portio!!.-  id' It  i!i  luhir,  to  jKiHit  toll  wliMl  is  worlhv  of  oltser- 
valioii  thoimli  our  limit.-;  may  |»rf\fiit  ;i  tr<  iii  iioticiiio  it  iiiorc  (lartK'u- 
lirlv  til  our  -ii'i-i  (|U('ii1  riMiiark-.  So  that,  ii[ioii  tlic  whole,  wo  cxiu'Cf 
•  iic  attrinu-,:  ri;a(br  will  In-  i.'iialilod  ;i.'s;/j/  to  a|>i»r(:ciiit<i  tiio  mrrilsora 


Sriiiii'ii  iliatlia->  btXMi  (Ic.'cincd  (ic-rrvinj;  (ii'r<'-pul»li<'aiiuij,  vww  iii  iiir-o 
I'liitnl  States. 

To  tli()!sc  of  our  roader.-',  vvlio  have  pfruscd  \\\c  liuijuT  [i;iri  i.l'tln.s  ht 
t!(!  IJouk.  :iii(l  ol' which  tlic;  jtrcsrnt  is  the  .vhv,7/(/ and  rdiicliKiiiijj  liim.liri 
it  IS  iiiiiici'(.'^.sary  l.»  repeat  the  0-//<' "  < 'aiiscs  (if  the  hi-tre^s   '  uliieh  lia^ 
latelv  iiivtdveil  the  iMaimraitiirers  ol'  I'.iiuiiiii.l   in   reln!li(in.  and  eau-cd 
ihi'iM  I')  tie  vi  itcil  \Mtli  lildoddied  and  u  ith  i)l'l.\'ri  I      W  c  ;.mi|  nui  tr|! 
(hem,  \\\\\  tlie  soldiers  are  ealhd  U|»«.n  In  ^-hudi  tlieir  iii.aMind  ami  (hs- 
Ireshicd  lellow-e.oiiiitryriieii,  hke  vcrnnn  tliat  aneni|il  I(»  sati-ly  then-  huii- 
<;(T  l)y  the  destruction  ot*  our  erdii'-.      Tor  the\   can  trace  the  \\\\  t(i  Hi 
source;   and  can  jicrct'i'.e  ihil,  Irum  thi'  rrronroii-  --v.-tini  (il'iniMetv  it- 
s<'h"  iia- been  ciif:oii(h  red  tlic-c  lata! -cheiiies  nf  ( 'nircni^    uid  T  in.uier, 
Avhose  <ijieratiuu  and  reiidl>  ueiiave  atfemiitcd  to  de-'  iilie       Indeed,  it 
liiust  he  [irelty  apparent  to  <  \e!  v  con>i(h  rate  nidiv  idnal,  uhn  ha-  duect- 
cd  his  alt(  utiou  to  the  |)()ini,  liiat  it  is  t lie  ha-e  and  acriii--( d  i{(  'IJIillli  Y 
(.)F    I'US'ri'iJi'rV,   which  these  scheiii.-  Iia\.'  eii;:M.  (I  tin  ir   pirdeCCS- 
sors  to  coiiumt.  that  is  now  overwhehiiin<j;  the  Knolisji  papulation  witij 
liiiserv   and  de'-pair.     Such,   at   least,   is  the  cause,   uluch   rea>on  and 
ru,/<//i'>/.'  sense  would  seem  In  as>i;iii :   and  we  will  tpiicKiy   proceed  to 
{•onsidertho  ifprosentation,  that  cant  and  servility  have  ollered  of  the  af- 
fair 

iJtlore  li(nvever  wiM'ome  to  the  dissection  ol'iiie  account,  uIik  h  :heu, 
hy  tJKur  IJiithfr.l  interpreter,  Mr.  Irvin<:,  liave  suhniitted  to  th<  »(<rld,  \\v, 
will  so  far  iinii  He  the  l)iviiN"s,  as  to  make  n  '-•ti  of  ilrlsimi  of  our  re- 
marks. .\ii'l  .vii!  endeauiuj-  til  point  out  tl'i  uiiini  characteristics  <ifhiri 
farraj^o,  hy  noticing  the  servility  and  .Mipcrstition,  the  inipudence  arxl  in- 
coiir^isleiwy,  the  I'aldiood  and  niisrepre^entation,  in  all  of  uhicii  it  so  co- 
piou.dy  ahounds. 

Ill  rt"l(.'rnn;jr  to  the  hypocrilical  s(!rvility,  in  whirh  .Mr  !r\in«!  ha.s  con- 
sidered it  proper  to  indul5,n\  we  entreat  the;  re.ider  not  U>  loifr-t  thcap- 
j)arent  cau.sc  of  tiie  distress,  to  account  fhr  winch  our  I'n  d.)teriaii  au- 
thor Ire;  entered  within  the  rin«i.  So  tha*.  while  If  is  relieciin^r  „,„,., 
what,  to  use  Mr  Irvirifr's  e.\j)ressinir  (1*  ^O  i«;iy  i»e  d.  cm,  d  die  " //iv/- 
.«////«;■'  orioin  oftho  disease,  he  may  yet  cnlertain  a  lively  recoller-tion  ol' 
the  ''  visi})lc"  sources  of  the  eoniplaii.t  Kor,  if  he  po.<sess  this,  In-  will 
know  !;ow  to  estimate  wh:tt  our  parson  lias  said  in  the  'Jtid  and  Ttli  par- 
a"rauhs  alx^it  the  "  wisdruii  <;f  the  riihTs"  and  the  "  jiohh-m-s  „t  the 
co.e'titMtioM."'  by  an.l  und.  .•  whi.di  t.he  einharrassnienl  has  he .  n  produ- 
ct..] i'o-  tiiomdi,  when  he  was  desirous  to  uiajriiify  the  seventy  of  ih.; 
chastisement  (ih  in  !'s.  7  ^:  UO.  I"-  ''^^  ♦'••''^^"  ^  pi'-t"'<-  oi"  the  <hstre^s. 
tru)v'r>piHin-f;  he  eurefullv  refrains  IrcHu  utt- rinij- a  syllahh' ot  l.laine 
a-aii-^t  the  eorrupt  sv.<ten.  ami  infamous  a-.nt.v  «h..  ha-<-  o<casione(« 
«o  lamcnlal.le  a  resull  fi.hk  the  lai.hh.l  herahl.  uh<.  .^  said  t,.  have 
visited  the  kimr  oflsrac  I.  and  uiio,  when  that  monarch  had  violate.,  tne 
prineiph-s  of  pntice  in  an  outra^ocus  dejrrr.',  .sai.l  to  him,  "  ih.v  "••/  ,hr 
„uui  ■'  our  nioder.i  prophet  pu'^  forth  his  cloak  to  huh  the  .hi.inmiv  and 
wh-kedn.'ssoftlie  men  and  measurrs.  that  heouLrh't.,  hav.  .-..  e.x;  linlly 
con.te.iuied  <  >ii  t'lie  contrar\ .  he  toolidilv  a.,  v'.cll  a<  ha.e'v  intimates,  in 
one  part  of  his  discourse,  that  th"  irrel.<ra.n  ..l  the  peoph  ii.av  h-  r-tly 
considered  as  the  .-au-e  of  th.-ii  p.-aniarv  d-tre.s.  .\w  d  I  .,fTrTrny+^~.. 
adniuiMered  tdl  the  xery  muuntain^   w.,nld  reimAe   .  ,.,;ld  ir-'.oie  h.m 


() 


/n'i/'t<i;*s  Sermun. 


ronfilry\ce\\\\\ui  R-iSf-*,  uitlioiit  whirli  all  tlir  Rrlijrion.  th:it  all  the  V\*t>- 
l»>ti'ri:iM>  iiinc  *:V(;ri'*//A:^''/ c'^ci./ or  possessed,  woiilil  !)«■  ol'in)?  liic  sli^jit- 
e^t  iiv;ul  So  tliiilto  imslouil  tlic  |»'M)i»le,  and  cover  (Voin  iiuTited  dis- 
j^iaii;  those  cornipi  iiiiiiistors,  who  -i.iiitimit;,  |imusli  Jheiii-olvc^^,  !.nt 
lii-kk;  tlievunity  i>f  our  hicctarian  priotJl,  by  listoiiiiif.^  to  his  mystical  iia- 
ratiiTuos  ,  he  ultosa  viokiit  tirade  airainst  l>eiHiM  and  llevolutioii.  Tor 
even  tills  Scottish  |iarso;i,  to  l"orward  his  desijrn  of  diverting  the  peoplt! 
from  the  rral  source  ot"  their  calamities,  is  rtiady  to  lal)  doun  ai.^l  \s  or- 
»hii)  too  Li.lh  II  \u\A\rii,  that  tl'.e  despots  of  the  "  Holy  Alliaiiee"'  huvo 
-el  \\y.  lie  dares  tiieielore  to  >:pit  forth  his  juiiiy  and  eoiiteoiptd)!)-  ana- 
tli'iiias,  a'r;iin>t  U!(»se  "  revolutionarv  doeiriiies  '  f«)r  uliieh  tiie  nooiortal 
and  tlirirc-hlrs^rd  \V;i-hiiijftoii  contended;  and  to  "  spread"  wliieh,  th<; 
U'-.uf,  l>i||  alas'  unassisted,  (ireeks  are  ollcrins,''  up  their  \\\vm\  Vea,  if 
t  ti(  iv.ii.  r  will  rclf-r  to  the  close  tjf  paragra[di  o,  he  will  liiid  him  repro 
sciitm;^  the  cxteii.-ioM  of  lilx-ral  opiinoiis,  with  resjiect  to  reli<ri(»n  aiitl  jjo- 
voriiiiieiit,  ;i>  anion;.' tiie  warninjfs  whieli  the  Kni,dish  are  said  to  have  rc- 
ccivoil  of  the  uii<rtr  of  tlie  Most  lli<,di ! 

At'ior  siicli  a  speciiiieiiof  his  lahours,  we  can  scarcely  be  surj-.riscd  at 
wliaiovor  may  sacceed.  We  sliall  not  wonder  that  be  seems  to  lament 
hec.mse  "all  tliiiijjs,"  on  the  continent  td'  liurope  were  not  likely  to  bo 
rosturiMl  lu  their  iuiciont  state;  since  we  are  aware  that  to  produci?  this 
restiiratioii  ii.is  Ixru  the  favourite  iiu.-asure  of  the  men,  whose  fatal  j>ro- 
fecdiiif^s  li(!  was  desirous  to  shielfl  ("rom  publit-  iiKlii;nation  and  contemj>t. 
Altlioutrii  uc  cannot  but  marvel  a  little,  that  even /k:  should  have  prated 
about  his  t'\peetatiuu  that  ull  thiiijLTs  v.ould  nut  "ever'  be  resl()reil  in 
coiiiitrios,  of  wiiuli,  in  the  very  same  senience,  he  states  liiis  belief,  that 
tlu'V  will  sink  .111(1  utterly  »o  (lown  in  the  storm,  he  declares  to  be  "  at 
HAND."  For,  if  lie  rt.'ally  believed,  what  he  stal<'s  liim<elft<»  "expect," 
(IV  .>.)  viz.  that  ail  iuimetliate  and  total  destruction  awaite'd  the  nations 
to  winch  lie  rei'crs,  wnv  tell  us  that  he  doe^  not  anticipate  ///  thviu  the 
rcdtoratioa  he  seems  to  desire  I  Xolliing  indei'd  can  fiirly  account  lor 
liis  o.\press!n<^  sucli  iucoi!«jrU(»u.s  c.\pectatior.s,  unless  the  desiini,  we  have 
su;i[)os«'>!  liiiii  to  entertain,  will  pio<hiee  such  an  eifoct.  And  a>  villainy 
wli-.'tlirr  ma  layiinn  or  a  prie-t,  is  ne-nerally  blind;  we  lind  our  parson 
<Mul(MVouriii!j^  to  prop  the  objects  of  jils  adulati<)n  by  a  statement  of  such 
ab.-.ard  and  contradictory  supj)o:<itions,  as  clearly  shows  that,  in  reality, 
hei'iilertalii(;d  no  fxpectati(»n  ot'the  sort. 

I)iit  pi:tiincr  aside  the  folly,  the  faishood,  and  the  imjiudencc.  which 
su<  h  a  rcjircsi  >it;it!(iM  uio-t  sirikin^rlv  displays,  we  must  now  notice  the 
priiicip.il  |iii-!ti  >ii  lii.ii  our  cccles!a>tical  teacher  endeavour.-  to  iiianiiani. 
A;i.lii  i-i  ■lie  \*'\  iiiwre  liicxcusal*!.',  dangerous,  a!i<!  dejrradinp'  than  any, 
to  \khir!i  wv  have  liitiirrlo  reft-rred  I  or  these  iiuitj  perhaps  be  attrib.ut- 
i*d  til  |»r<'|ii(lirf.  or  iiii-takc  ;  but  iii  ofifrniii  the  command  of  (JoU  as  the 
oriciM  ol'tiiiir  oi-ii(--  he  WHS  uilliilly  atteniptiiiL'' to  palm  upon  In,-  hear- 
ths .ui  iiii|iii-/:i>  (!i.  uhi.-ii  I- fal.se  as  it  is  base.  It  \~  j"issiblr  lh;il  ..iirSeot- 
tisli  vliviii.  Iiclic',;  •.  thr  l':i-t;:('  unii;;!!  tho  .it.'icr  instniini  lit-  ;ii.(:  had- 
^-  -  .il  t  \  i;u,!iv,  oujlil  t: '  !i;i\  (•  ocen  rest  ok  d  v,  illi  the  restored  itioiiarehy 
'•;  i'l  i-icc  hilt  ui  iittnhiiluio' tin- piM'iiiiiar\  di.'beiiltif^  of  HiiLilaiid  to  ♦ho 
t»  ii  "I  I.T  til,!  i:r  w ;  -  ii;i-(l\ .  -nv  lit  1\ .  aiid  i'orni|itlv ,  a.--!-!  ii  ;^-  the  inin- 
i-!i\  t.»  l;i\  iha.  ■  lliitt.Mini;-  i.!K?.:in  to  their  -oul."  by  uliicii  tiuy  hope 
to  jilac-e  till    fit  al  r».>ulT.- (jt' r/;nr  uujudiev   to  tiie  ae<'.oimt  of  the   INani- 


/rring'.^  Sernior,.  71 

cirnrc  of  the  Mu.-t  lliij;ii.  'I'liis  (iosifr,,  indccrl  is  apparent  in  many  parte; 
j.ltlir  (li>r-(»Mr><;;  and  is  cs[)(>(ially  ohscrvaldo  at  the  Ix-niiimiiir  arid  flu; 
c">il  '  "I't  in  the  very  C()iicliidiii(r  sfMitciico,  lie  compares  tiie  liiiciiia- 
tioii.s  ol'  Credit  t(»  the  "  storms  in  the  atmos|d)er«;;"  evidently  desiirn)in»- 
therehy  tliat  the  lasi  imprcssio/i  of  his  aiuhence  should  he  tliat  doth  v.  ere 
the  prodiietioii  oftlie  Lord. 

N(j\v.  we  eoiiteiid  th:it,  in  piiltei":  torth  su.h  a  repn  >(!itati(;n  as  \vc 
have  pointed  out  this  ■'  man  ol' penelrution.'  \\,r  siieli  in  paraj^raph  !;  lie 
intiuiatr- t!i;it  he  is,  has  most  inramoii.-l)  deserte«l  his  duty  hoth  as  a  patri- 
ot and  a  prnst.  He  has  lihelled  thf  Sovereiirn  of  the  I'mverse,  ulios»; 
ainl)assador  he  desires  to  liu  considered  to  he,  hv  representm*:  that  \h) 
uills  the  misery,  and  even  the  (iestriietion,  ot'his  cr«'atnres;  while  he  vn- 
deavonrs  to  allay  the  ven^:eanc(',  and  |)iTpetuaie  the  >|;i\erv,  of  his  eoun- 
tryincn  by  attrihutuijf  it  to  a  s(»uree,  which,  with  every  k  ,i-on;i!)l(  heiin^ 
must  for  ever  ''ih  r!ee  either  <»ppos!tion  or  <'«tnip!aint.  In  statinir  there- 
fore, as  lie  dot's  ill  the  seventh  paragraph,  that  (jod,  "  l)v  their  late  ra- 
ta-jf  rophe,"'  hao  «,fiven  them  the  "  just  inul  proper  si;jn"  of  his  <lisplea>ure, 
he  tak(>-  froio  tiic  people  of  I'liijTljuid  all  rational  irioend  tijr  luurnnirim' 
or  redres-i  And  thouixh  l"'aniiiie  and  Mnder  are  airain  ui:<diained  lor 
their  destruction,  our  trut^  .sun  of  the  rliurc  h  would  have  them  tamely 
acquiesce  in  tin  ir  late,  like  the  worshipj>ers  of  .Ii!<r<.fernaujrt  ;  l)e(•;u:^e 
IIH  falsely  ami  tlu-reiore  hlasphemously  asserts  that  their  ruin  ;uis«v  from 
the  "  iiiver  of  every  <rood  and  perfect  <,nlt."  As  then  to  rxjKivc  such  a 
statement  as  this,  i^  (juife  eriouirh  to  insure  itsccuiilemiiation,  ;inion<:  the 
triihj  pious  and  well-mfoniied  ;  we  shall  lea\e  it  for  then  ainnia(lvtr>ion, 
and  procet>d  to  m.tice  another,  hut  a  somewhat  kindn d.  sentmu  nf^ 
t!i,it  till-  Pr(!sbyterian  advt>eatc  of"  lejiitimate"  f^ovcrnment  has  ver>  dis- 
tinctly advanced 

Ami  in  L:"lan«'ii;<5  at  the  sujnr.stition,  or  rather  at  the  unphilo^ophic  no- 
tions, whi'-h  pervade  thf!  (liseourse,  we  shall  more  particularly  direct  our 
atti  iilion  to  those  which  are  coiita;':cd  \u  the  sixth  parafjraph.  SiiKw  it 
IS  tli're.  wherein  iu'  appeirs  to  have  coneeiitrated  tliose  false  notions  (»n 
Provideiie*'.  which,  whetln  r  or  not  lie  heheve-  them  hmi'^clf  he  appenrs 
to  have  been  desirous  of  luiposmtf  u|»on  the  p<  r.-ons,  who  more  than 
waste  their  time,  bv  atte-ndinjj  to  his  uiM  and  useless  .•»|)eculations. 

It  will  th<  n  !'<■  'ib-i  r\rd,  l.y  a  refeience  to  the  paraijraph  wr  have  na- 
med, that  our  samtiv  phdosoplier  attributes  to  the  Almijjhty  elhets,  whieji 
evidentlv  result  fr<un  causes,  alik<'  natural  and  clear  lie  considers  ."Sev- 
eral thmL'"s  as  y}ij)rrn(intrii/,  or  Providential,  that  were  remarkable,  only 
on  a<'roi;iit  r.i"  their  suddenne.-- and  their  t  \ttnt  But  which,  from  their 
mfreipnin  y  lud  tluMr  im,M)rlance,  the  iu'-onsuU  rate,  (»r  iininrormed,  are 
apt  to  look  up-'u  as  in:'.rvellous  in  the  extreme  .  <  speci;ill\  when  the  su<:- 
aestions  oftlit  ir  iijnorancc  or  their  inattention  are  confirmed  bv  the  ;is- 
sertious  of  our.  who  professes  t..br  ;i  pro|)het  :i.-  u<ll  a-  |ni<  -i  S..  th:a 
here  we  behold,  not  the  bliiui  leadinjf  the  blind  until  both  fall  uito  the 
ditch,  nut  till-  cr:it"tv  dehidim:  the  super-iitiou-,  in  order  to  nnke  tin  m 
easy  in  the  slouijh.  wlicrein  tliey  are  already  inirulphed 

lithe  rf;id<>r  will  earetiillv  periNc  the  sixth  |»ara;rr;ipli  <,f  ihe^r  \*ti  <• 
bvteriau  IXtr.ici-.  he  wdl  tin!  it  -i  iied  therein  that  the  rise,  projjre--,  .-cid 
fall  of  liiiiiiitifitirlr  were  the  e-iieei  d  ;iet  of  (Jod  himself  That  is.  i;e  i,i.t 
m»'relv  created  the  man,  but  al-^o  made  Inm  a  (Jeneral  and  a  ('(UKnieror, 


72  //-/v,'/:,'  A   Si'niidji. 


;i'i  l',iii|><r(>r  and  :i  Slave  l'<«r  «iiir  '  111:111  of  |)oii(  trutKin"  oxjirosslv  (1<»- 
clari'.-  tliiii  iliis  j^rrat  liifidd  |trni(»'.  \Ui<iiii  ( iod  kaisid  rv,  laliniircd  m 
tin  work  to  uliicli  lie  \\a-  Al'l'<  JlM'lil)  ;  and  that  aftcrw  ards,  (iod 
not  bfuiji  al)lc  we  >ii}i|m»s('  ti>  keep  tiiiii  to  In-  |(»1),  vfitlidrcw  hi-  hand, 
an<l  ciinsiiincil  hint  Id  a  swil'tcr  d^'.^trudion  than  had  jiiT\i(iii>ly  h»  en  iiis 
rise  t»>  lin|Miial  ynwi  r  '  <  )in  ~|>ir!tnal  dircrtor  lurtht  iinc.rc  mt'ornis  u>. 
tliat  tht^  ii.(tr,  ulmh  uas  carried  mi  in  Sjiaiii  liir  xt  many  Noars  hy  the 
nmiinrial  Na[Milf<ni.  an<!  whirli  iuiin>i>ned  pnsons  wrrr  wonl  tu  attri- 
hiitr  tf  h;s  ()()hi  V,  or  liis  a.iihilioti,  was  actnallv  "  carird  I'or  hy  the  Lord." 
Ami  thai  ihi-  i;t\v  "  s«'\«n  \  cars  \n  ar"  u  a>  ordiriil  l.\  dod, — "  to  punish 
that  I'eninsuhi  natmii  aiid  !o  r'-.j;;i  tlir  lln^dish  raptams;  ;ind  horscnien 
tor  that  direl'iil   lAi^rtlnov,    with  uliich   lli    cast  doun'  tin;   leader  <>'"  the 

I'riMieJi. 

'I"hi;>  tjieii.  It  was  tin  Lord,  who,  lor  so  li'inj  a  ]»eriod,  earned  tin-  \ie- 
torious  hannerr.  of  Inlidel  and  IlevohiliDiiary  I'raneelo  ahiio>t  «'YC'ry  cap- 
ital in  till;  European  (piarter  of  the  jjlohel!  it  was.  if  we  helievo  our 
Prcshvterian  diviner,  the  .Miiiiirhty  and  hlessed  .l«  liovah  who  cause  d  lur 
sons  to  ni;i>sa<Te  the  mhalnlahi-  oi' Saraufossa  ;  and  the  iirave  and  cele- 
brated PalatuX,  while  nohly  defen'hi}f  the  hearths  and  altars  of  his  i?ir«^s, 
wa.«  actually  ftpposiuii  hiiiiseif  tf)  the  Lord  of  Hosts  !  !  Ves,  tin;  lannuapci 
of  (tiir  j)reacher  would  jusiily  us  in  a>sertin»:  that  it  was  (Iod  Jiiiiist'lf,  wiio 
roiiflorc-.i  the  French  triunij>li;int,f'>'  /'//t;  </.^  ihci/  rvnuiinctl  Injiiltls  inilred ; 
but  that,  when  tlioy  relurnid  to  tin-  helii'f  of  their  fathers — when  they  rc- 
«ftt)red  the  relisfion,  winch,  as  w  dl  lie  seeii  hereafter,  Mr.  Ir\injf  <leclarcs 
to  have  lieen  built  up  by  the  Alniiirhty,  ihrn  they  were  deserted  by  their 
ujviiicdile  dir«  ctor,  who  i.-  represented  a^;  lia\inu,  lik(;  the  S;i.\on  batta- 
ln»lis  at  tin-  battle  (dLeip/itj,  p:i>.,ed  over  t<»  the  other  >:de.  I  ntil  at  last, 
wo  find  that  the  matrhless  ronun.uider,  "  whom  (iotl  had  raised  up,"  tor 
a  sjie'ial  purpose,  luit  which  pur[)o.se  the  itnrluni^^inu:  Deitv  allows  to  bo 
frustrated  by  the  in.-tability  of  man,  is  "  eonsiirned"  to  a  hojicless  sepid- 
ehn.',  wlule  y».'t  alive:  bci.ausc  he  did  not  peiforMi  tiiat,  which  accordinf* 
to  tlie  belief  of  our  par.son,  and  all  bis  sect  mn-t  have  been  "  |)red(;.stina- 
ted"  to  reniain  unjitrj'iriucd,  at  least  while  he  continued  in  the  werld. 
We  shall  not  however  attenipt  to  de-cribethe  iiief)n;.''ruily  of  representa- 
tif)n'".  whieli  will  be  iii(>re  ipproj.i  lately  noticed  iMid<T  a  separate  liead. 
\Vc  de-ire  at  present  but  to  poiht  »iiit  tli.il  v\aiit  ol'  all  true  [dl!lo.--o]djV, 
vhicli  this  holy  |iro(hiet  ion  *  xhibit.^  in  -o  remark  ible  a  dejrree  ;  bee.inse 
It  1-  in  the  absense  of  this  Itemjjnant  ilhinunatioii,  this  sun-sjiine  of  tlie  im- 
der.-tandine,  that  Sii]ter<litioii.  Hiiiotrv.  and  every  species  ol' iiiipn.>ture 
deliLdit  to  dwell,  'I'liese  exi.'^t  but  where  i;;norance  has  obtauied  the  do- 
imiiion  of  the  mind.  at>d  as  the  eonhi-ed  horror-  and  false  ilhi:>ioi!s  ot'a 
(.{renin  di'^perse,  or  io<.  ilinr  <  lb  et  beiore  tin'  iii.ije-tx  oi'  aw  akeiini'j  r("a- 
.-oii  -o  the  fheaius  o!  eM(hu>ia-im  and  spiritual  misrepresentation  vaiush 
Tit  die  approach  of  phibxophy  «»r  .■-eiise,  Toiichod  by  \]\\<  pot(  lit  wand, 
bki;  Satan  at  the  e.ir  o|  V.m-,  up  tliey  st.irl  "  discoVf-red  and  siirpri-cd.  " 
And.  thus  will  ,||.-  ,iu.i>  ihr  eoloiirintr  «d'our  prie.-t — thus  naked  and  de- 
foriii'd  will  look  the  picJMie  he  ha-  di.iwii  il  the  reu'ci  uiil  e\:iii;iiie  it 
'\\itli  «ooliie--,  an<<  brill!/  to  the  e\riiiiiiiat;oii  that  <omewlial  -earee  eont- 
Hio(llt\  .  i-oiiiiiioii  <-eii-c 

indeed    -o  !  :i-\  will  it  he  t'oiind  to  iip-et  th*'  larjfoii  l;e  has  uttered,  or 
at  least  that  n-nt  oi  it    which  wiH  nernut  an  assault   bv  jiavin^  «»/iv  iii'-'ati- 


In'i/ti>'s    ScrmtD).  73 

ing  to  attack,  Ihal  wc  hhall  not  detain  \hv  reader  hy  any  lengthened  ex- 
p(tsiii!>u  ol'tlie  absurdity  that  is  displiyed  in  tliis  part  of  th«'  diseomse. 
A  htlie  rifliitinn  upon  a  st;;1tinent,  that  (roc-;  lo  jirn\(«  thr  Deity  to  Ixj 
the  autiior  of  crime,  will  scatter  tjif  vvln.h;  ral>rick  to  the  \\iiids,  i'or  it 
will  exhihit  tiie  natural  causes  of  events,  that,  lor  a  parucular  purpo^e, 
are  represented  as  supernatural  an<l  divine.  In  short,  it  will  cominco 
Un,  that  the  career  of  IJiionaparte,  hotli  in  liis  decadi'iic*;  and  his  rise,  is 
easily  aceounit/d  lor,  without  inixinj^  up  liie  iiuler  ul"  the  LnivcMse  wiiii 
cither  his  succe^■S(•s  or  defeat. 

Hut,  it  may  he  said  perhaps,  that,  althoujih  there  are  natural  causes 
for  the  circuinstances  tliat  hav(^  l)een  naniid,  it  dots  by  no  means  follow 
that  the  Almijihty  cannot  he  the  author  of  ihi;  etlect.      For  lu  may  pro- 
<hice  those  very  ciiu.ves,  and  thus  hv,  what  Mr.  IrviujLis  staicnnMit  would 
re.iult  in  j)ro\inj(  him,  tiie  author  of  the  hloodsiied  which  result<!(l  thcre- 
frc.n.      iJut  such  a  rt-presentatiou  will  not  be  a«!mitled  lor  an  in.-tani  hy 
any  one,  who  entertains  u  proper  view  of  the  "  Kin«>'  of  kind's.  '    Such  a 
persi.n  will  <lenv  the  imputation,  thus  east  upon  the,  jusiirr  as  well  as  on 
th(^  benevoieuce  ol'the  Cre.'Mor:  since,  if  it  were  conceded  thai  ti;e  war, 
which  raided  in  all  (piarJei>  oi'the  globe  for  so  long  a  period,  was  iiii<  nd- 
ed  for.  and  "  sent"  us,  a  piuiishmcn'.    fur  .XtUiinuil  nfj'curr,  il  wonhl  then 
be  contend. 'd  that  it  was  essentially  r\.;rsT.    For,  its  th(;  suliiriiius,  pro- 
duced thereby,  principally  ii:Il  u[)on  those  who  had,  and  could  obtain,  no 
f-hart;  in  the  direction  (»f  the  nati«)nal  alVairs,  ~u-liih  iheif  -tahn  could  ron- 
hoi  them  -ji'ere  (greatly  hf-Nktitfo  hy  the  hostiliilcs,  it  will   re(juin'  an 
acumen,  <,'reater  than  any  .Mr.    Irvini:  has  displayed,   to  convince  a  iia- 
Konable  and  vni>reju(li<itl  individual,  that   (iO|>  had  any  thing'  to  do  in 
th<'  production,  or  j)rosecu(ion,  of  the  wars,  v.hicli  arc  at(ril»uted  to  him 
by  lliis  ])redestinariaii  priest 

,'\nd  were  we  t(»  admit,  what,  lor  the  sake  of  dcnymg  it  (tniy,  wo  will 
'uppose.  ihat  the  MernlV,!  ( )rigiu  of  Nature  mii'Jn  <iecree  the  dcvast.itioii 
t»f  the  world  winch  he  has  luade.  how  are  we  to  know,  and,  if  ignoiant, 
how  «lare  anv  of  his  creatures  to  assert,  that  su'-ii  is  actually  the  fan  \ 
No  one  but  our  propli«l,  we  presmm;,  will  declare  that  he  is  ae.piainttd 
with  the  seem  councils  of  the  Lord;  and  hi  wli!  find  it  dillieiih  ui.h.-J 
to  prove  that  he  knows  anv  thing  about  the  adiMinistrai.on  of  tiie  Mo.-.t 
lli'«di.  And  vet,  as  li<;  uttribules  to  it  eticcts,  for  which  there  c.xi.-^t  na- 
tural, rea.sona'ble'.  and  adccpiate  causes;  it  is  mrumbent  imhuu  to  show 
..Kit  he  has  means  of  knowing  im.re  than  his  fellows  about  s<.  unpoftant 
a  point  This  he  has  not  attempted  to  .-how  m  th.-  SeriiKMi  bdorcr  us  ; 
and,  tili  he  prove  this,  we  shall  contimic  to  tlunk,  an.l  we  behe.c  t he  can- 
di.l  rea.ler  will  acpuesce  in  the  opinion,  that  he  has  n.<.st  grossly,  lal^eiy. 
and  wittiiedv  misrepresented  the  Master,  whom  he  prol,.-<s  to  .<erve,  m 
order  to  currv  lav.mr  with  the  real  idol,  winch  l'«'.  :''"' '^  "l'"'^,;;  '";; 
clerical  brethren,  are  ever  ready  to  obc-y.      I  nnnnd/u   ot  the  ,  c.-l.u..l,on 


tl 


••  call  "  to  higher  ni.K    or  increased  emolument ;  we  n-.rr  hcud  ol  n  m 


l<:i 


7*j  //v'//?j>-'\    Srrmon 

sanriion  hy  l/icir  prrscnro  so  base  n  niisreprcse/uaiidii  ol  their  God 
i\u  lii/idcl  hu.s  «;vt'r  written  any  tliiny,  or  nuule  any  kiiul  ol' rcpresonta- 
i]i)U,  so  (lero<Ti\t<)ry  to  his  Maker,  as  is  this  rcjmrt  «>i'th«'  rnvoy,  tfiat  wo 
an'  to  ?iipi>o:<i!  r«ccivo«l  his  coniTiiission  to  insirurt  us  Ironj  the  Lord  liim- 
i«fh!  Nut  even  Paiiic.  whr-n  ho  >^o  tar  ihvialed  I'roni  tlial  nianiy  n  a>on, 
wiiich  dictated  the  '  Hij^hts  oC  Man,"  as  to  en)j)loy  r/(/'V»/c  \vh(Me  solid 
ar;;iwuent  akuic  was  eallctl  tor  and  desired,  did  ever  hrinjr  Ibrth  any  thini; 
8<i  iusultni<T  to  the  Creator,  as  this  taneied  pi<-tnre  of  his  (Jod,  wliirii  our 
Presbyterian  U'ader  has  j>resi'nted  to  the  worM  H«-  hiuifhed  at  Christi- 
anily  afid  He  was  wronj;  ;  tor,  whatev<T  ln'  our  scuMuients  respeeliiifr  the 
"  thousand  and  on«'''  ereoth,  that  usiup  th«'  appelhilioii,  we  oii<rht  srriinn;- 
lij  to  i.'xanunc  a  rehffion,  that  is  protbssed,  at  last,  by  nearly  a  (ilj  AR- 
VV'.W  ol"  the  world!  Uut  he  lilx-lled  not  that  l'irst(ireat  (.'au><f!,  whom 
Mr.  Ir\int;r(  presents,  a>  liavniu  "  buihh'd  'ip  tin.'  Iloniai!  I'aith  by  the 
Warrior  ('liarleuiajjfne.  that  be  iui*;ht  "  overthrow"  it  by  the  more  uiiuhty 
r-ui[»eror  olthe  I'reucii.  No,  sueh  a  statement  was  reserved  tor  the  pro- 
phet, priest,  and  Seoteluuan.  whose  valuable  \\i»rl<  we  ar<'  endeav(»nrint( 
to  make  known;  and  we  h-ave  it  lor  the  st>rious  ntnsiilcrmion  ol' those, 
who  eoiisid*  r  a  pr<»tr-siou  and  a  possession  oCKeliirion  to  be  the  same 
tliin;.'.  \\  V  niiuhi  addtire  many  other  insianees  of  the  palpal)k'  absurdi- 
ty and  eontradietion  uhi<  li  dir.tin^'uish  this  discourse,  both  in  tjit;  pro- 
jdieiieal.  historical,  and  a«lmonitory  parts  olwhi<:h  it  is  compoed.  We 
nn<4ht  point  out  the  I'oUy  <d' statin^',  as  he  does  in  the  yth  |»araiiraph,  tlia? 
Inlidelity  will  bo  the  d«  struction  oriiii»iland,  "  ifnnt  renudicil,'  when  he 
had  eh-arly  and  pftsitively  predietiMJ.  in  the  oth  parajjrapii,  that  //  ti-o.s 
ihclf  AiiouT  /'/  he  tlritroijcil.  Supposinjx  himt(.)  be  a  true  prophet,  in  tlio 
latter  position,  and  that  inlidelity  is  really  at  its  last  jijasp ,  what  are  we 
to  think  of  the  reasouer.  who,  with  ri'lerenre  Jo  tln^  f.iy»//-?>ii;-  delusion 
th-elares,  that.  UNLliSS  it  be  remedied,  even  tins  dyin«;  seeptiei'^m  will 
"  strik<?  down  '  one  of  the  leatiin<r  nations  of  the  earth  ■  Uut  we  refrain, 
and  proceed  to  remark  the  almost  e(pially  siui^nlar  statements  \\hi<'h  ap- 
pear in  sid)se(pn'nt  parts  of  the  address. 

As  we  observed,  then,  in  a  btrmer  pari  o)'«inr  obsrrvatn)ns,  we  eon- 
sideretl  that  Christians,  ami  we  nui,Mit  have  added  visi(»naries,  the  most 
<hluded  and  absurd,  were  till  of  opinion  that  the  Aire  ol"  Prophecy  had 
loitj;,'  been  i)ast.  liut  here*,  it  s<'ems,  w».'  were  clearly  "  reekoninjf  with- 
out our  host."  l""or,  it"  the  render  will  carefully  peruse  the  lariL'niicrc  of 
tiie  'uii  para«.rra|»h,  he  wdl  lind  it  mtiniated  that  IVopiiels  have  visilett  the 
British  Metropctlis,  and  that  in  tin*  /irc^iii  times!  As,  when  speakinL""  of 
th(  prophet-:,  "  which  have  been  sent.  "  be-  imnn'diately  adds,  "and  the 
warmni,fs  \  !•'.  have  despise«l ;  '  evidenti}  desirin<r  it  to  be  undi  rstood  that 
a  connexion  exisied  between  tlu^  propliets  and  tlie  warmn;rH,  which  his 
couLfre^atiou  (ye)  has  been  acetistonu-d  to  receive.  i*^^t  that  it  is  no  lui' 
fair  conclusion  to  sufipose,  that  Mr  Irviiiir  desires  to  !)(■  ranked  amoni»" 
the  insjtircd  individuals,  who  arc  said  to  have  been  commissioneil  to  <le- 
clare  iIk-  will  of  the  .Most  Idifh.  And,  if  we  may  |udi:(>  by  the  result  of 
their  "  warnings,  as  declared  by  our  |  readier  hiniseU",  we  may  readily 
allow  that  these  London  so«)tlisayers  wer<'  of  the  Iniwj;  stamp.  I'or,  it 
seems,  accordinir  to  his  ow!>  n  presentation,  that  the  citizens  iiave  receiv- 
ed the  animin  lation  of  their  powers  with  incredulity,  siimlar  to  that,  rx- 
pres.scd  bv  llot-pMi    uhcM  lie  heard  the  .iaims  ot'li,- relative  (ill  ftdtiw  fT 


•77 


//'vhig's  Sermon. 

Why  ■■■  Ir  cxcluimrd  iho  hutcT,  ■   .an  i.-all  .^jMnts  from  il.c  vasty  ciorn  " 
\.-,   ivtortrd  tho  ;r:ill:mt  Nortlmnii.rian.   ■•  a.ul  -o  can    I,  or  so  cun  ;mv 
/nan    l.ut  v\ill  they  annc  whon  yoii   I'u.  rn!)  f.-r  (iirm  ?'"       ,\,„i   ||„;.  ,|,;. 
ailiahitai.ts  uf  London  (Uuihtlcss  sny  to  proplMt    Irvin^r  and  iu^  hrotlur 
^vijTS,  "  you  prophecy,  we  kn.)vv   hut  how  an;  we  lo  knou  if  vonr  pr.-dir 
nons  rest  on  any  other  tonn(hition  tha».  a  p(«r\ertrd  jud^-ment",  ai;d  a  licat- 
vi\  braui  ! '     At  all  evfnt^  these  modern  nja|i  have  been,  it  .-eeuis  ••  de- 
sp)s.,-d,'  and  henco  ^^v.  shonhl  coneh.de  that,  \Ao  our  Caledonian  parson 
they  liavc  been  of  native  hirth        As  we  hsun  from  very  hif.di  iiuthoritv 
indeed,  that  i»roj»hets  .■^ehi()-i  prosper  m  the  eountry  which  may  l;c  e.»n'- 
s.derod  as  more  especially  their  "  owa/'    If  therefore;  our  Ihii^h  friends 
desire  to  have  such,  as  they  are  likely  to  re^[>ect,  we  fear  they  uiusi  ni- 
I'OKT  their  pr<.phets.  a^  lliey  uere  wojit  t<,  dr»  tlu-ir  kinjj^s;  and  thus  be 
^H)ven.ed,  in  iheir  rehpous  as  in  their  secuhir  eonrerns.  by  a  lojeiLnirace 
lie  Ibis  however  as  it  may,  "  the  iiropliet,-,  which  /«ne'l)eon  sent,    and 
all  tlie  "  wiirmug^"  fhey  have  piven  have  been  of  no  avail'     lor  we  arc 
t(»id,  ill  parapapb  thf  ;»th,  that,  nolwith<tar.diiiiraII  (he  v\..)i(hrs  they  have 
Vrontrjii,    ■  i.'w  jjtoplc  nf  litis  Cil>/  [Lo>i:li'„]  /„rvr  Intowc  out-S/iokcu,  rash, 
ami  furious   Injideh!  '.r      And  here  we  would  rcniaik,  what  oiiolit  in' 
d"e(i  tM  1  ave  been  noticed  under  a  lorna  r  liead,  that  this  stan  in. m  ol  the 
iiicreas*'  ot    Infidelity  is  very  inconsi<ienf  with  ihat  early  aniMitilation  of 
it.  uhieli  \r.  positively  foM  tohj  in  the  odi  division,    rnkss  indeed  v.e  lan- 
ey  (hat  iJeisin,  like  a  calf,  is  alloued  to  latleii  jii.^t  befi.re  it  is  ;!esir!>\ed. 
We  cannot  tell  if /'/'.v  be  the  opinion  of  our  priest,  altheiiijii  hi.s  otherwise 
siiidieal  representations  would  favour  the  belief     At  any  rate,  I^e  jr,ve.s 
us  clearly  to  understand,  that,  in  tin    !ai;j<'st  city  in  the  world  of  which 
v.e  have  any  satisfactory  account,   J)Ki?^M  «fei;eraily  t.vi.Ms  and  i.s  also 
eominunly  avovved!  ! 

SiK  h,  then,  is  the  "  pieture  (if  London,'    which  onr  Pre.>byterian  seer 
has  olVered  to  the  world.   And,  w«;  iinist  conleps  it  is  a  curious eifcct  for 
l^ible  Societies,  'I'ract  Societicjs.  Iloiiie  Missionary  rfocielies  and  all  flir 
oilier  Sclieme>  for  advaneiiii;"  a  belief  in  Keyelation,  to  i<ave  so  rapidly 
produced.       We  own  tliat  tiie  j»r(na!cnce  o!"  unbelief  in  the  Donrincs  k)\' 
(Jhristiiudty.  is  a  sotiitnvhal  unexpected  ///'(j/e  to  all  those  Prayer  Meet- 
in«rs,  Caiiii-  iMeetin^'^s,    Love  Meetin{)s,  and  tho.se  aniphihions  Meetings 
for  Heanien,  which  have  of  late  years  be«-ie«red  ll;*'  Mai*  sty  of  Ibaven 
with  solicitations  that  lie  would  — «lo  w  hat,  thwikest  thou  ( )  ri  adcr — that 
he  would  allow  his  oxt'ii  -Ji'nrtl  to  run  and  be  tjlorilied!!    As  if  the  f)niiii- 
()oteiii  Uulertd'all   iVeatiori  could  he  indiflerent  to  the  spread  of  any 
tiling,  that  He  had  deemed  it  <\s.sential  to  rrvtn! .'    Vet,  such  a  picthre  as 
our  priest's  would  ainio.st  niake  us  Jlilnk  that  (ioil,  like  IJaal,  was  rt^ally 
deaf  to  the  |)rayers  of  his    'sniiiis,"  and  had  1*0  Inlidelily  t(»  triun'|>h  on 
the  earth.      And  we  cannot  but  i-oiidole  with  the  pious  bahhh  rs  <  i  ihi; 
day  on  the  «\\i.-^tenee  of  a  fact,  that  is  calculated  to  jiave  so  in. pleasant  a 
reli-rence  to  t^ir/.-i.     For,  a.'S  it  is.-t.ited  in  rro\erbs  (v.  1.^,  v,  J!*.;  that  the 
■'  Lord  is  ftr  I'mni  t/ie  rrickcii.   but  he  m  ai'.ktu  the  [irayer  ol  the  righte- 
ous;" we  niu-i  think  liiat  his  deafness  to  the  reijiiests  oi'his  modern  ser- 
vant", and  which  refusal  to  hear  is  evidenced  bv  th«'  allegetl  increa.''e  of 
Inndelity,  will  certainly  impeach  th.il  charfi'-tf  r  for  riLditeonsiiess,  which 
tiiev  oiiL''ht  tti  p(»s,css,  and  to  wliich  the  Aimiolitv  li'U  iin  with  a  favorable 
car.     »fince  it  will  hardly  l>o  .-rUppo'^ed  tiiat  God  «((n-not  rc-^lr-iin  tin;  tri- 


L- 


.,so  //•>'(' mj^'.s  Sermon. 

tijoritv,  \vc  leurii,  '•  kiiowledj,'*)  is  jH)\vrr,  I»ut  h'  wc  tako  Mr.  Iiviiin'^ 
s(MitiiiitTi(s  to  !)i'  those  ol'  lii.s  clas-^,  we  sIkiU  (■(Jiicliulc  lii;ii  ijni/  consider  it 
to  !>!'  cri.'ii.' U>  \Kv\\  lis  streuijlli '.  Siiic.*^  if  •  Fiducation,"  whioli  is  the 
ro;ul  t(»  kiiowl«'(lj;»',  Icatis  hsil  to  liilidclity  and  insubordination,  what  is 
il  hilt  that  knowlcdLjf  it•^t•|fmn^t  ho  injiirions  ni.il  unsafe  I  So  that,  ac- 
cording ?()  V"'"'  liccount.  ihi!  h;.ss  a  niau  knows,  tho  bcttt.'r  lined  is  ho  to 
serve  ariL'lit  hotli  ins  teUow  and  h;s  (Jo<l '  And,  as  ij<iu  rail  hna  an  inti- 
dcl,  ur  a  hla-phcnu  r,  it"  lie  (hmhts  res|K>eting  points,  which  reason  is 
<  OM  KssKDi.v  unable  to  explain  or  even  conipreheinl,  it  seems  to  I'ollow 
front  the  preniiM-s.  you  ad\oeat«',  that  a  man  leu.-t  lit-  a  hyitoerite,  or  fool. 
hil'orr  he  is  jn-ajxrlii  fitted  t(j  do  his  duty  to  his  .Maker,   or  his  raco. 

Thus,  then,  we  have;  rapidly  pursued  (Mir  parson  to  tlii<  fliniav  ol'mis- 
vcpresenlatioii,  foUv,  and  disiirace.  U-  eonimcneed  by  orossly  niis-sta- 
tiiiji  the  source  of  the  pecmiiary  <listress  tiiat  has  overwh'-iiiK  <!  iiis  coijji- 
trymen.  and  ho  finislies  by  misrcpreseutin;:  llie  causes  thai  have  led  to 
their  dissatistacfion  and  unbelief  The  lormer  error  may  be  attnbuKnl 
to  his  d«!sire  to  cover  iho  baseness  of  Ins  ministerial  acijuaintance  ;  tlio 
latter,  to  a  wi^ii  of  prop|»in:;  the  waniii;.;  inll;ienc(!  of  bis  clerical  associ- 
ates and  fiitnd-  But  in  l)oth  he  ha-  Ixrn  ennnily  unsuccessful,  when-^ 
ev-'r  III-  <tatemcnt  is  not  as-isttd  by  prepidice,  or  Us  delusive  represen- 
tations art;  not  ;rnlj»ed  down  by  iirnoranco  itself  For  wc;  ima^rine  no 
camhd.  well-infornifd,  and  un-bi;rotcd  individual  will  ajrree  with  Mr  h- 
\n\l^  Ut  the  oj»inion,  that  the  Di-^tress  of  Fnuland  is  a  "  siirn"  oi'thc  an- 
ger ot'tiie  /.'  /•(/ ;  or  tiirit.'  Fi(hicati»)n  '  oujj^hi  to  Ix- n  siiained,  hecauseit 
toache-  Mr  Irvin^^V  Itnad-riitcrs  to  "  mock'  either  his  sermons  or  him- 
self •  ''Ti  'hi'  c  iiitrarv.  wc  think  sucji  ;i  niif  will  conclude  tliat  tiii-  tor- 
mer  arisc«  solely  from  the  folly  and  the  injustice  of  MAN ;  while,  takin'.^ 
hi<  pre«>nt  .Vr///';/i  for  a  >a!Mide.  he  w  ill  view  the"  mf>ckin<r'"  uf  his  domes- 
tics, at  M(  n  dise<>urses.  a>  an  espt.'cial  '  -^iLm  of  their  disferniiK'nt  and 
ttieir  s<;nse.  Tlureforc  we'  conclmh- lli:il,])elore  our  preacher  steps  fortii 
aL'ain,  to  utter  hi-  explanahon-  of  f'r  .".ideii'-e  or  <-!  I  )i.-tress — before  ln^ 
takes  the  field  ajrani.  airain-i  knov»l(;d<re  and  r(!Vobition — before  lie  pre- 
tends to  irive  us  information  about  lUrfwun,  when  his  Sermon  shows  ho 
is  worse  than  iiioorant  about  tlie  pa-t — he  will  do  well  to  con-iiit  those 
vorv  bread-eaters,  who  a  ipear  t(»  hav<'  made  so  much  a  better  use  of  the 
"  IMucitioii/'  they  have  received,  than,  judiiinjj  iVruu  the  [>reseiil  atteinpt, 
we  -honld  '■iipp(>-e  him  to  ha\e  made  il'liis 

Ibit  whether,  or  not.  he  hears  of  or  adool  ■.  the  recommeudalion,  thai, 
in  iliis  re>p.  et.  wc  are  deHirou>  to  oiler  to  his  reirard,  we  do  wish  him 
to  toil. ev  the  a<Ivi«'e,  with  \v!r.'-h ');ir  limits  coiiipel  us  to  <!<>-(•  thi-  notice 
of  liis  adfjress.  "  j\V  svfor  i/lfrd  rreiiiiUun,  let  not  a  cobbler  eo  h<  vond  his 
la-t  '  I-  \t;v  anci».Ti1  and  als«»  very  <ido*l  cotin.-el  iiiileed  .\iid  w<'  re- 
coni'iiend  our  par'^on  to  hold  it  sacred,  since  no  one  ever  made  a  jirealer 
botch  thati  liimself,  by  d'-partiriLMherelVom.  As,  wise,  eUxpient.  and  use- 
ful as  he  iiiiif  !>e.  wlnle  haii'.'ii'TiiiL;  at  In-  o.. /?  trade,  ue  nmer  witnessed 
a  more  total  failure  by  a.n  e.xlerisiiui  of  it  Mr  IrviniJ;  may  be  as.-ured  he 
!«*  much  le--i  fitted  for  a  politician  than  a  \\n<'-\  '  Let  !iim  tlien  .-lick  to 
bin  la-.t  ,  and  liiat  we  in.'.v  not  be  -aid  to  ;i(j\  ;-e  |;,ni  to  laboir.  Wllhoi't  iri- 
vm^f  him  a  |(d)  we  hop''  lie  wih  try  hi- hand  at  the  I  lihnvinir  text.  •  ( )  ve 
livpocrite-     \e   e,in  di-cerii   the  liu'e  of  the  >kv.  (   ui  m'  iic?  di-ecTti   the 

H(;\<  or  'riiF.  'I'imfsi  ' 


I' 


mm^Li..^.: 


-SLvl       «!? 


